PUBLIC NOTICE – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY – LATEST MICROSOFT UPDATES FOR MS OFFICE AND MS WINDOWS

Written by meadecounty. Posted in Community, Updates

Microsoft Office 365, now branded as Microsoft 365, is a subscription-based service that provides users with access to a suite of productivity applications and services. Version 2411 of Microsoft 365 typically refers to a latest build or update of the Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and other Office tools, along with cloud-based services like OneDrive and SharePoint.

Since Microsoft 365 is updated frequently, the version number 2411 refers a specific update released in November 2024 (build 2411). These updates often include:

New Features: New functionalities or enhancements to existing tools across Office apps and services, such as updates to AI-powered features like Copilot, improved collaboration features, or new templates in applications like Word and Excel.

Bug Fixes: Addresses known issues with the Office apps, improving stability and performance. This could include fixes for bugs in Word formatting, Outlook syncing, Excel formulas, etc.

Security Improvements: Patches for vulnerabilities to help ensure that users’ data and productivity tools remain secure.

User Interface Updates: Changes to the look and feel of apps, potentially improving usability, accessibility, or introducing new design elements.

Cloud Integrations: Enhancements to cloud storage and collaboration features, such as OneDrive improvements, Teams integration, or SharePoint updates.

Version 2411 (Build 18210.20000)

Resolved issues

Microsoft Word
• Fixed an issue that was preventing emails with linked SVG content from saving or sending.
• Resolved an issue where opening a large document with many revisions would take an extended period of time.
• Resolved an issue where RTF files would not be proofed on open, resulting in a 0% rating from the Editor pane.
• Resolved an issue where updating a table of figures may cause unexpected changes to certain words, resulting in spelling mistakes.
• Resolved an issue where the Save button would be unresponsive if the file was saved to a folder including with a period (.) in the path name.

Office Suite
• We fixed an issue where users experienced slowness when an Excel file contained many combo box form controls.

Manually Checking for Updates

If you want to check updates, follow these steps based on your platform (Windows or Mac):

For Windows:

  1. Open any Office app (e.g., Word, Excel, or PowerPoint).
  2. Go to the “File” menu in the top left corner.
  3. Click “Account” (or “Office Account” in some versions).
  4. Under Product Information, look for the Update Options button.
  5. Click “Update Options”, then select “Update Now”.
    • This will check for updates and install them if any are available.

November 12, 2024 is Microsoft’s November 2024 Patch Tuesday, which includes security updates for 89 flaws, including four zero-days, two of which are actively exploited.

This Patch Tuesday fixed four critical vulnerabilities, which include two remote code execution and two elevation of privileges flaws.

The number of bugs in each vulnerability category is listed below:

• 26 Elevation of Privilege vulnerabilities
• 2 Security Feature Bypass vulnerabilities
• 52 Remote Code Execution vulnerabilities
• 1 Information Disclosure vulnerability
• 4 Denial of Service vulnerabilities
• 3 Spoofing vulnerabilities

Running Windows Updates is essential to keep your operating system secure, improve performance, and ensure compatibility with the latest software and hardware. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to check for and install updates on Windows 10 and Windows 11:

For Windows 10

1. Check for Updates

  1. Open Settings:
    • Click the Start Menu (Windows icon) in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
    • Select Settings (gear icon), or press Windows + I.
  2. Go to Update & Security:
    • In the Settings window, click Update & Security.
  3. Check for Updates:
    • In the Windows Update tab (which should be selected by default), click Check for updates.
    • Windows will now search for any available updates. If updates are found, they will automatically start downloading and installing.

2. Installing Updates

  • If updates are available, you’ll see a notification that they are downloading.
  • Once the download is complete, Windows will typically install the updates in the background. You may be asked to restart your computer to complete the installation process.
  • If a restart is required, click Restart Now. Windows will automatically apply the updates after the restart.

3. Advanced Options

  • In the Windows Update settings page, you can click on Advanced options to manage update settings:
    • Pause updates: You can pause updates for up to 35 days.
    • Choose when updates are installed: You can control whether updates are installed automatically or manually.
    • Delivery Optimization: Allows you to control whether updates are downloaded from other PCs in addition to Microsoft servers.

For Windows 11

1. Check for Updates

  1. Open Settings:
    • Right-click on the Start Menu (Windows icon) and select Settings, or press Windows + I.
  2. Go to Windows Update:
    • In the Settings window, click on Windows Update in the left-hand menu.
  3. Check for Updates:
    • Click Check for updates. Windows 11 will now search for any available updates.

2. Installing Updates

  • If updates are found, they will begin downloading automatically.
  • Once downloaded, they will be installed, and you may need to restart your computer to complete the update process.
  • You can restart immediately, or choose to restart later, depending on your preference.

3. Advanced Options

  • Under Windows Update, click on Advanced options to adjust update settings:
    • Pause updates: Pause updates for up to 35 days.
    • Notify me when a restart is required: Get a notification when updates are ready to be installed and need a restart.
    • Delivery Optimization: Allows updates to be downloaded from other devices (including PCs on your local network).
    • View Update History: View a list of previously installed updates.

How Often Should You Run Windows Updates?

  • Security Updates: These are crucial and should be installed as soon as possible to protect your system from vulnerabilities.
  • Feature Updates: These are major updates (e.g., new Windows versions) that bring new features or changes to the system. They are usually released twice a year, and you should install them when they’re available.
  • Quality Updates: These are minor updates (e.g., bug fixes and performance improvements) that are released regularly. It’s good to install them when they appear to ensure your system runs smoothly.

Conclusion

Running Windows Updates regularly is crucial for maintaining system security, performance, and stability. You can set updates to install automatically, or you can manually check for updates through the Settings app if needed. By following the steps above, you should be able to ensure your system is always up to date. If you encounter any issues, you can troubleshoot or download updates manually from Microsoft’s Update Catalog.

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