Outlook 2003 SP2 *BUG* Junk Email with Hyperlinks not opening

[Lee M Chambers]

Since installing SP2 for Outlook 2003, the Junk Email settings has a new
checkbox option 'Don't turn on links in messages that might connect to unsafe
or fraudulent sites. To help protect your security, we recommend that you
leave this check box selected.' Which is a nice idea, however, and if the
checkbox is checked this feature works, ie Hyperlinks do not open when
clicked either by viewing a Junk Mail item in the preview pane or when I open
a Junk Email message via Outlook or Via MS Word 2003 (when set as the editor
for messages).

However, if I uncheck this box, 'apply' close restart whatever, I stiil
can't click a hyperlink and get it to work if the message is in the Junk
email folder. If I move the folder tothe Inbox, it works, if I move it to the
deleted Items folder, it works !!!

So here's a couple of questions and comments for anyone who may be
interested :-

Did Microsoft actually test the checkbox feature when it is actually
unchecked ?

What a nice security feature, it works when in Junk Email folder (albeit
wrongly if you don't want this feature) but you can always get around it by
deleting the message, viewing it in your Deleted Items folder !!!!

How do I get this feature to work when it is in the Junk Email folder
without having to drag the email aorund the folder system in order to select
a hyperlink ?

Please, no suggestions about setting Internet Explorer as default browser,
shelling to regsvr32 for urlmon.dll, or cut and pasting the URL text into IE
address bar or things like that !!!

 

[aconde]

I am experiencing this same problem and haven't found any solutions. Were you
able to get this to work for you?

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

What particular problem? Lee described several. Note that links won't work on items in the Junk E-mail folder, period.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[aconde]

Sorry. I release this is a design feature, so I've posted a suggestion. I
want the option to "enable links" for junk mail messages without having to
move them to a different folder. I think that there should be an infobar
option to "enable links" on a per message basis. I use the "Safe List Only"
junk mail setting, so all mail goes to the junk mail folder except for those
that are from known senders. I want to keep junk mail in the junk mail
folder, but I would still like the option to follow hyperlinks if i determine
the email to be safe.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

have you tried the high setting? or add those messages you want to read to
your safe list so they don't go to the junk email folder? The safe only
setting is very restrictive - it was added mostly because people said 'aol
has the feature, why doesn't outlook' and it was easy to do.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/



Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)

 

[aconde]

Yes I have but I prefer to use "Safe Only" because then I have total control
over which emails arrive in my inbox. For instance I have subscribed to the
PC Magazine newsletter. Most of the time i'm not interested in the
information in the newsletter so I don't want any email alerts saying that I
have a new message. But at the end of the week when I look through my junk
mail folder I may see that newsletter and this week it does have a link that
I am interested in so I want to be able to click on it. I hope that makes
sense.

have you tried the high setting? or add those messages you want to read to
your safe list so they don't go to the junk email folder? The safe only
setting is very restrictive - it was added mostly because people said 'aol
has the feature, why doesn't outlook' and it was easy to do.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/



Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)

Sorry. I release this is a design feature, so I've posted a suggestion. I
want the option to "enable links" for junk mail messages without having to
move them to a different folder. I think that there should be an infobar
option to "enable links" on a per message basis. I use the "Safe List
Only"
junk mail setting, so all mail goes to the junk mail folder except for
those
that are from known senders. I want to keep junk mail in the junk mail
folder, but I would still like the option to follow hyperlinks if i
determine
the email to be safe.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

You're spending a lot of time browsing through junk looking for what might
not be junk - totally defeating the purpose of the filter. And if someone
changes their email address, it goes to the junk folder straight off, to be
lost among hundreds of junk messages.

Have you tried the junk setting on high, then creating a rule that moves all
mail to a folder called "Less important" except if it's from people in your
address book? This gets the obvious junk out of the way and gets the less
important stuff out of the inbox.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/



Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)

Yes I have but I prefer to use "Safe Only" because then I have total
control
over which emails arrive in my inbox. For instance I have subscribed to
the
PC Magazine newsletter. Most of the time i'm not interested in the
information in the newsletter so I don't want any email alerts saying that
I
have a new message. But at the end of the week when I look through my junk
mail folder I may see that newsletter and this week it does have a link
that
I am interested in so I want to be able to click on it. I hope that makes
sense.

have you tried the high setting? or add those messages you want to read
to
your safe list so they don't go to the junk email folder? The safe only
setting is very restrictive - it was added mostly because people said
'aol
has the feature, why doesn't outlook' and it was easy to do.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]
Author, Teach Yourself Outlook 2003 in 24 Hours
Coauthor, OneNote 2003 for Windows (Visual QuickStart Guide)
Need Help with Common Tasks? http://www.outlook-tips.net/beginner/



Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook newsletter:
(e-mail address removed)

Sorry. I release this is a design feature, so I've posted a suggestion.
I
want the option to "enable links" for junk mail messages without having
to
move them to a different folder. I think that there should be an
infobar
option to "enable links" on a per message basis. I use the "Safe List
Only"
junk mail setting, so all mail goes to the junk mail folder except for
those
that are from known senders. I want to keep junk mail in the junk mail
folder, but I would still like the option to follow hyperlinks if i
determine
the email to be safe.

:

What particular problem? Lee described several. Note that links won't
work on items in the Junk E-mail folder, period.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers



I am experiencing this same problem and haven't found any solutions.
Were you
able to get this to work for you?

:

Since installing SP2 for Outlook 2003, the Junk Email settings has
a
new
checkbox option 'Don't turn on links in messages that might connect
to
unsafe
or fraudulent sites. To help protect your security, we recommend
that
you
leave this check box selected.' Which is a nice idea, however, and
if
the
checkbox is checked this feature works, ie Hyperlinks do not open
when
clicked either by viewing a Junk Mail item in the preview pane or
when
I open
a Junk Email message via Outlook or Via MS Word 2003 (when set as
the
editor
for messages).

However, if I uncheck this box, 'apply' close restart whatever, I
stiil
can't click a hyperlink and get it to work if the message is in the
Junk
email folder. If I move the folder tothe Inbox, it works, if I move
it
to the
deleted Items folder, it works !!!

So here's a couple of questions and comments for anyone who may be
interested :-

Did Microsoft actually test the checkbox feature when it is
actually
unchecked ?

What a nice security feature, it works when in Junk Email folder
(albeit
wrongly if you don't want this feature) but you can always get
around
it by
deleting the message, viewing it in your Deleted Items folder !!!!

How do I get this feature to work when it is in the Junk Email
folder
without having to drag the email aorund the folder system in order
to
select
a hyperlink ?

Please, no suggestions about setting Internet Explorer as default
browser,
shelling to regsvr32 for urlmon.dll, or cut and pasting the URL
text
into IE
address bar or things like that !!!

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

So, you're not really using Outlook's junk mail filter at all? You're just filtering for people in your Contacts list?

If so, then turn off Outlook's junk mail feature and don't use the Junk E-mail folder. Make another folder and, as DIane suggested, create this rule:

Apply this rule after the message arrives
on this machine only [no conditions]
move it to the Less Important folder
except if sender is in Contacts Address Book
stop processing more rules

Messages from people in Contacts should stay in your Inbox. Messages from everyone else should go to Less Important, where the links will work fine.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Lee M Chambers]

I have only just received an email notificaiton that someone had responded to
my initial report.

It is all very well saying that you should set up rules etc but you have
missed the whole point of my initial report.

This is it :

Before Office SP2 update it was possible to lick on a link within an email
that wa sin the Junk Mail folder. You didn't have to but if you deemed that
the email had come froma reliable source then you could click a hyperlink,
review what ever was on the other end and decide 'Yes, this person can go in
my safe list' or 'No this is Junk'.

Since SP2 this isn't possible. There is now a nice new feature in the Junk
Mail options dialogue which has a checkbox "'Don't turn on links in messages
that might connect to unsafe or fraudulent sites. To help protect your
security, we recommend that you leave this check box selected." If you CHECK
the checkbox I would expect that links do not work. Fine ! This works !
However, if I actually UNCHECK the checkbox, I still cannot click on a
hyperlink and get it to access the site required.

The point is, Sue, your statement of "Note that links won't work on items in
the Junk E-mail folder, period." is not very helpful simply because the
problem is that a feature which perports to allow or disallow actioing a
hyperlink JUST ISN@T WORKING. If I uncheck the box I expect to be able to
click on a hyperlink for an email int he Junk Mail folder IF I WANT TO
because I would like to make that decision for myself before clicking on the
link to determine if it is an unsafe one or not.

Hence the use of the checkbox - I want to decide on my system to allow
access to hyperlinks for mail in my junk mail browser by simply unchecking
this checkbox I have been questioing. But this is no good because it simply
doesn't work. Hence my original sub question, did anyone actually test this
feature ? i.e. If the checkbox is CHECKED are hyperlinks disabled, if the
checkbox is UNCHECKED are hyperlinks enabled ?

If this is not how it was meant to work then the field caption is WRONG !

So, you're not really using Outlook's junk mail filter at all? You're just filtering for people in your Contacts list?

If so, then turn off Outlook's junk mail feature and don't use the Junk E-mail folder. Make another folder and, as DIane suggested, create this rule:

Apply this rule after the message arrives
on this machine only [no conditions]
move it to the Less Important folder
except if sender is in Contacts Address Book
stop processing more rules

Messages from people in Contacts should stay in your Inbox. Messages from everyone else should go to Less Important, where the links will work fine.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

Sorry. I release this is a design feature, so I've posted a suggestion. I
want the option to "enable links" for junk mail messages without having to
move them to a different folder. I think that there should be an infobar
option to "enable links" on a per message basis. I use the "Safe List Only"
junk mail setting, so all mail goes to the junk mail folder except for those
that are from known senders. I want to keep junk mail in the junk mail
folder, but I would still like the option to follow hyperlinks if i determine
the email to be safe.

 

[Sue Mosher [MVP-Outlook]]

The check box has nothing to do with the links in the Junk E-mail folder. It's related to the new anti-phishing feature. Phish = "messages that might connect to unsafe or fraudulent sites." If you clear the check box, links in messages identified as phish will work as long as the messages are not in the Junk E-mail folder. That's all it does. And, in my experience, it works as designed.
--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003

and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers

 

[Brian Tillman]

Most of the time i'm not
interested in the information in the newsletter so I don't want any
email alerts saying that I have a new message. But at the end of the
week when I look through my junk mail folder I may see that
newsletter and this week it does have a link that I am interested in
so I want to be able to click on it. I hope that makes sense.

Why is it so burdensome to take two extra seconds to drag the message back
to the Inbox prior to trying to use the embedded links?

 

[Brian Tillman]

It is all very well saying that you should set up rules etc but you
have missed the whole point of my initial report.

This is it :

Before Office SP2 update it was possible to lick on a link within an
email that wa sin the Junk Mail folder. You didn't have to but if you
deemed that the email had come froma reliable source then you could
click a hyperlink, review what ever was on the other end and decide
'Yes, this person can go in my safe list' or 'No this is Junk'.

Since SP2 this isn't possible.

So remove SP2 is you're not happy with it.

 

[Lee M Chambers]

The point is, the option is in the *Junk Mail* options dialogue therefore if
the option is in a dialogue relating to the control and filtering of Junk
Email it should work on anything in the Junk Email.

Otherwise it is totally the wrong place !! Am I the only one who sees this ?

Funny thing is, according to your rule of thought, the thread has new
replies automatiuc email that is sent to me should someone reply to this
thread is a phishing type email link since the hyperlink toi get me back to
this page is contained within an email from a sender not on my safe senders
list.

I accept what you are saying IF the checkbox is CHECKED, but it should work
as it did in SR1 if the cehckbox is UNCHECKED !! as to NOT DISALLOW (ie two
negatives having a NET meaning of ALLOW) link to work.

 

[Lee M Chambers]

Good solution Brian ! How do I do that exactly ? The Office SP2 update is non
removable.

Is your suggestion to remove the whole Office suite and start over again ?

What, just to get around a bug of a checkbox having no effect on a feature
that used to work ?

Thanks

 

[Brian Tillman]

Good solution Brian ! How do I do that exactly ? The Office SP2
update is non removable.

System Restore Point.

Is your suggestion to remove the whole Office suite and start over
again ?

That's another way, yes.