14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has launched new updates for Office for Mac users with the purpose of patching several security flaws that were recently discovered in the 2011 and 2008 editions of the productivity suite.
On its Mac-centric site, Mactopia, Microsoft describes the Microsoft Office 2011 14.1.3 Update as being imperative for those working with the suite:
“This update fixes critical issues and also helps to improve security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code,” say the people based in Redmond, Washington.
Users are then taken to the official Microsoft web site where they can learn more about the bugs patched with this update.
The patch applies to Office 2011, Office 2011 Home and Business Edition, Word 2011, Excel 2011, PowerPoint 2011, Outlook 2011, Communicator 2011, Office for Mac Standard 2011 Edition, Microsoft Office for Mac Home & Student 2011, and Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011. The file size is 112 MB.
Download Microsoft Office 2011 14.1.3 Update (Free)
In terms of purpose, the Office 2008 for Mac 12.3.1 Update is pretty much identical, although Microsoft seems to indicate this one is not critically needed
“This update improves security,” Microsoft bluntly states, following with an identical description of the risks involved should the user not patch up their Office for Mac 2008. The risk is identical to the one noted in the Office for Mac 2011 update.
Naturally, Office 2008 for Mac 12.3.1 applies to Office 2008 installations, including Office 2008 Home and Student Edition, Office 2008 Special Media Edition, Word 2008, Excel 2008, PowerPoint 2008, Entourage 2008, and Office 2008 for Mac Business Edition. This update weighs in at a hefty 333 MB.