Security warning on local hyperlinks

[Kim G]

If I create a hyperlink in OneNote to a file on my hard drive then I get a
security warning about hyperlinks being harmful to my computer when I click
on it.

This is driving me mad) Is there any way of preventing it?

Thanks,

 

[Erik Sojka]

There's no way to turn it off. If *you* could turn the warning off, a
crafty virus writer could as well.

Given the choice between security and convenience, I'd prefer to be
annoyed.

 

[Kim G]

There's no way to turn it off. If *you* could turn the warning off, a
crafty virus writer could as well.

That's ridiculous. Why don't I get a warning when I open a file normally
then? A virus writer could more easily attack my system directly without the
bother of going through OneNote and hyperlinks.

Given the choice between security and convenience, I'd prefer to be
annoyed.

And I prefer to be treated like an adult, not an incompetent child. I don't
have to put up with this nannying in other software: why is OneNote so
vulnerable that it needs it?

This one thing could easily put me off using this product altogether.

 

[Erik Sojka]

It's consistent behavior throughout the Office family.

I think it's a matter of "Microsoft can't win no matter what". If there
were no warning, and if a person got infected from clicking on a link in
a document, then people would flood the newsgroups complaining about "Why
didn't Microsoft protect me from this virus?!?!"

Maybe a future version of Office will allow some of the notifications and
protections to be managed. It's not a big deal for me to press "y" each
time I click on a File link...

 

[Rodrigo]

Couldn't agree more.
One of the primary uses for OneNote can be organizing local PC information,
and the warning turns out to be very anoying when you use your links
frequently.

More than that, the message looks critical (A white X inside a red circle).
Clicking "yes" one hundred times a day to that type of messages lowers the
exception message's profile.

Tomorrow, my PC is going to tell me "the following action will uninstall
OneNote and format your drive". I'll surely click "yes".... by accident.

 

[Phil Hodgson UK]

Sorry, Erik,

I think that you are on Microsoft's payroll...

You are missing the point ENTIRELY...

Microsoft havent even given us the choice to deal with this ourselves and to
allow us to manage the security levels ourselves.....

and as for you pathetic comment "Given the choice between security and
convenience, I'd prefer to be annoyed", well I can only say thay you must be
totally computer inarticulate or you wouldn't have made such an amateurish
comment... the point is that we shouldhave the option to choose...

I have been building PC's for over 10 years now.. I know what I am doing..
Yes, I have had viruses on my PC's in the pat, but I know how to handle
them.. NOTHING can get past my firewalls... not even a clever piece of
scripting from a cunning, nasty virus writer.. so the choice should be mine..

I am totally fed up with Microsoft's constant dictatorial ways..

It's time to wake up, Mr Gates.. you are loosing us!!!

 

[Chris H.]

Sorry, Phil, but the people who answer most of the questions in this
newsgroup (unless they've got an MS notation, with a Microsoft email
address) are normal users like you and me. If one who answers happens to
have a Microsoft MVP designation in their signature line or in the From:
column, it is because they're been recognized by Microsoft for their
volunteer efforts to help fellow users in newsgroups or forums.

I'll guarantee you Microsoft does not ever tell us to change our own
opinions, and the MVPs are among to most vocal in pushing changes we'd like
to see in programs so they reflect the users' desires in either capabilities
or ease of use. This is a public newsgroup without official Microsoft
support, so a lot of us voluntarily - on our own time beyond work, families,
etc. - try to help out.

Our answers may not be what you'd like to read or be told, but they're free
and offered without any refund. If you'd like to see what the MVP
program is all about, here's information:
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Ben M. Schorr, MVP]

I have been building PC's for over 10 years now.. I know what I am
doing..
Yes, I have had viruses on my PC's in the pat, but I know how to handle
them.. NOTHING can get past my firewalls... not even a clever piece of
scripting from a cunning, nasty virus writer.. so the choice should be
mine..
I am totally fed up with Microsoft's constant dictatorial ways..

The irony is that prior to the warnings, when people less expert than
yourself, got themselves infected everybody blamed Microsoft for not
protecting them enough. Now you complain because they protect you too
much.

Yes, I understand that you want the option and that is a valid
suggestion. If they incorporate that feature into future versions I
presume you will speak up to defend Microsoft when somebody who dismissed
the warning messages gets infected and then blames Microsoft for making
insecure software.

"Making Microsoft Office is like ordering pizza for 12 million people."
-MS Developer whose name unfortunately escapes me-

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote/Outlook
Operations Coordinator
Stockholm/KSG - Honolulu
http://www.scgab.com

 

[James Gockel]

Yup.. but most of us enjoy helping, even if they have an opinion of their
own, and sometimes rude about it... (_me_)...
But I enjoy helping people here, and love reading new ideas from other
users... I dont want to be an MVP now.. it just means i'd have to still come
here.. I help not only here (don't know if i really help ;-)) but on many
other forums.
I don't have all the time to quickly answer questions, like some do... but I
put my input, even if its just to give the answer (i feel) the user is
looking for.. even if the Mvps think its bad to put tweaks up ;-).. chris
All in all, don't get pissed at us, even though some may be labeled by MS...
doesnt mean they get a paycheck... we just like to give our input to help
the user (you!)... and we didnt write the program, we found what we know
the hard way...
The newsgroups are volentary.. no MS employee gets paid (forced) to post
here (right chris?)
I disagree sometimes but always still enjoy reading what that same person
wrote.

Hope that made a point. :-D
-James G.

 

[Chris H.]

For some Microsoft employees, support is their position. Others, like Chris
Pratley of the OneNote team, like to feel the pulse and interact, accepting
input from regular users. And just so you know, James, "being" an MVP isn't
something you obtain. It comes to you after years of volunteering with
peers, in the way you communicate with people, accuracy of your answers, and
the communications skills one uses including proper spelling. One could
have all the right answers, but their keyboard manners could be abrasive and
laced with street talk which people don't want to read and thus turning off
the reader.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -

 

[Erik Sojka (MVP)]

I'm not on the payroll. I'm a volunteer here. And can we try to have a
discussion without the name calling?

With your experience, surely you remember the Melissa and ILoveYou
viruses and their ilk. The more trusting settings in the various
affected MS products led to the conscious decision to "annoy" users with
the constant warnings. Any roadblock that gets put up in front of a
user, no matter what their experience level, that gets them to think
about security is a good thing, IMO.

The product is what it is. Its current feature set is what it is. The
OneNote dev staff are aware of this feature request of customizing the
notifications per my other suggestion.

=?Utf-8?B?UGhpbCBIb2Rnc29uIFVL?= <Phil Hodgson
(e-mail address removed)> wrote in

 

[Grant Robertson]

Sorry, Erik,

I think that you are on Microsoft's payroll...

You are missing the point ENTIRELY...

Give it up, Phil. You will never get through to them. I still have my
suspicions that some of the MVP's are on Microsoft's payroll but they
will never admit it. Some of the postings I have read even sound more
like a bot than a real person in their dogged repetition of the same old
MS BS. But whatever you do don't accuse them of it. Every MVP in the
country will come rallying to their defense. And no matter how polite you
are or how many names you DON'T call anyone they will seek every
opportunity to run you down and claim you are saying things you haven't.
They will insult your intelligence, and your character. They will claim
everyone you have ever met must have disliked you because of your
argumentative attitude. All because you dared to disagree with them or
ask them to stop insulting you. I have come to suspect it is a
subconscious desire to undermine the credibility of anyone who dares to
challenge an MVP.

As to the MVP status. Being designated an MVP does not confer any direct
obligations on a person, nor do MVP's get paid directly from Microsoft.
However, many MVP's do profit financially indirectly by being able to get
more clients, attract more web site visitors, or sell more books due to
their designation. Once they have the designation they dearly want to
keep it. And from the behaviour I have seen, the only way to keep it is
to repeat MS rhetoric as often as possible.

Interestingly, the people who do claim to be on the MS payroll, like
Chris Pratley, are usually much more honest about the failings of MS
products. Chris Pratley will tell you that he knows something doesn't
work as well as he would have liked but they weren't given enough time or
money to do it any differently. I appreciate that honesty. Perhaps the
actual MS employees don't have to worry about getting fired just for
telling the truth as long as they aren't revealing a trade secret. All MS
has to do to an MVP is not give them the designation next time around.

 

[Ben M. Schorr, MVP]

And from the behaviour I have seen, the only way to keep it is
to repeat MS rhetoric as often as possible.

I'm sorry you feel that way Grant, but that is decidedly not true. If you
really want to discuss it you're welcome to e-mail me at
(e-mail address removed) -- I don't see any point to cluttering up the NG with
this topic.

--
-Ben-
Ben M. Schorr, MVP-OneNote/Outlook
Operations Coordinator
Stockholm/KSG - Honolulu
http://www.scgab.com