KnowledgeBase Articles » Why do web links (URLs) have BLOCKED:: prefixed on them?

Monday, August 12, 2013, 12:57

Why do web links (URLs) have BLOCKED:: prefixed on them?

Category: General

Solution ID: 00000226

Summary:

I can't click through the web links (URLs) in my e-mail. Why do all my web links (URLs) have BLOCKED:: prefixed on them?

Answer:

When you receive an HTML message, links in it may not work or the File, Open dialog will open, asking to associate an executable file with the link. Looking at the source, you’ll see the URL is prefixed with BLOCKED::, like this:

≷A title=http://office.microsoft.com/ href="BLOCKED::http://office.microsoft.com/">Office Online</a>

This is an Outlook security feature that may occur when URLs are copied from one email message and pasted into another message. This is not a common problem, but we have had some reports where it has been seen in Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007. It may be do to Internet Security Settings on your PC or in Outlook or may be a result of anti-virus or anti-spam software installed on your PC.

You may be able to control it by adjusting the blocked external context setting in Outlook. In Outlook go to: "Got to Tools > Options > Security". Here you can selec to "Change Automatic Download Settings" and make appropriate adjustements. You may also fix this problem by setting Outlook to use the "Internet Zone" (on the same page).

Note: We do not recommend lowering the internet Security settings or Setting Outlook to use a less restrictive Internet Zone. Resetting the Internet Zone to use the default settings may help.

Warning: Using any zone other than Restricted will lower your security and could leave you open to possible infection from Java exploits.

Tags: Blocked::, Blocked::http:, Office 2003, Office 2007, url, weblinks, security

Link to this article: https://perfectmail.com/kb/blocked_web_link_urls

Updated: Monday, August 12, 2013, 12:57

-- David Rutherford