Implications of using upsupported MS Office

Hi everybody,
I have Office 2000 and found out that extended support runs out today. What are the potential pitfalls of using this product now that it's lifecycle has run out? Am I exposing myself to major viruses? What other negatives are there? Thanks.

 

It simply means that you are using a product "as is". If you have not had any negative experiences up until now, then you will not likely experience any in the near future.

 

Microsoft releases a ton of updates for Office. I've read through those updates once and there were both security and functionality updates. New updates are no longer offered after the extended support phase is over. So as Padme said, it's "as is" from this point.

Most people I know don't bother updating office anyway, so I don't think you're in any worse a position than the majority. I can't imagine malicious people have much interest in finding exploits in such old software anyway, so I wouldn't give it a second thought.

 

I still use Office 2000...so far no problems and I figure there won't be any problems under XP or Vista.

It'll die out in a few years if I have to upgrade Windows.

 

Once extended support runs out, you get no support, either for functionality updates or, more importantly, security updates.

Whether this bothers you really depends on your appetite for risk, and on how objectively risky your activities are. If you never download a Word document from anything other than a thoroughly trusted source, and if you fantasize about riding a motorcycle nekkid, in a blizzard, with your eyes blindfolded (ok, so that was a bit hyperbolic), then you'll probably be just fine. On the other hand, if you do occasionally download things from sites you really don't have a clue about, then you might be at some nontrivial risk of getting a bit of malware with some queer document some day.

In terms of the risks of people developing new malware; I'm not as sanguine as Gregory. To my view, old, outdated apps are a really good training ground for script-kiddies just trying to become something more like a real cracker. As such, I do think that some people develop malware specifically for old apps, for that reason, and maybe also because there's probably a positive correlation between people who use old, outdated apps and people who use old, outdated (or no) A/V protection.

 

The current rev of open office is roughly equiv to office 2003. free download.

 

Provided, that is, you don't need to exchange a lot of documents with other people who do use Office; if you do, any equivalence is extremely rough.

 

Good points Shyster. I dismissed the security concerns hastily. While I don't find myself in particular risk in such situations, I was incorrect to insinuate risks don't exist. Risks exist, especially when the majority is susceptible to it.

 

Might cause some compatability with newer Office apps too. If you're a student though, I think you can get Office 2009 Ultimate for like $60.

 

If you ever download documents from "non-trusted" sources and you have security concerns, you could always use the latest free "Word Viewer" from Microsoft... Or, you could use OpenOffice 3.1, which has gone a long way since it first began.

For creating your own documents you obviously wouldn't have any security concerns, so no problems there...