Most modern applications were updated to avoid security prompts and other issues introduced by the tighter security in Outlook. If you receive security warnings you should check for an updated version of the application. You can also use one of the utilities listed in the Tools section.
The Outlook Email Security Update for Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000 potentially affects almost every application that uses Outlook.
This list assumes that the most stringent restrictions are in place, in other words, that none of the administrative settings have been applied. Loosening the restrictions with the administrative options can, of course, change the behavior listed here.
Change Outlook 2007 or Outlook 2010’s Programmatic Access Options
If your application is not shown here, these pages provide an overview that may help you determine whether your application may be affected:
- OL2000: Known Issues with the Outlook E-mail Security Update
- OL2000: Developer Information About the Outlook E-mail Security Update
- OL98: Known Issues with the Outlook E-mail Security Update
- OL98: Developer Information About the Outlook E-mail Security Update
If you installed Office XP SP3 and now get “a program is trying to access you address book” dialog, see Microsoft Office XP Service Pack 3 for a list of programs known to cause the warning.
Microsoft Office | Accessibility Aids | Slipstick Systems Gallery
Other Applications | More Information
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office
- Using the File | Send To command pops up the address list access prompt.
- Using the File | Sent To | Routing Recipient command pops up both the address list and sending prompts. See OFF2000 Routing Office Document Prompts After You Apply Outlook E-mail Security Update. (However, routing is truly broken in Word. See below.)
- Macro security for Office applications is set to High.
Microsoft Word
- Attempting to perform a mail merge to electronic mail pops up both the address list and sending prompts for automation security. This essentially makes the feature unusable, since you must wait 5 seconds to confirm each send. In Office XP, merge to e-mail in HTML format does not trigger the prompts, but because it strips all hyperlinks, it’s equally unusable. (Mail merge to plain text still triggers the prompts in Office XP.)
- Sequential routing may be broken.
Microsoft Excel
- Using the SendMail method in a macro pops up the address list prompt for automation security.
Microsoft PowerPoint
- Animations do not run in a slide you receive as an e-mail message, because they are handled by a JavaScript file attachment.
- When you schedule a presentation broadcast or online meeting, you see both the address list and sending prompts for automation security.
Microsoft Access
- OL2002 Cannot Send an Access Database Table As an XML Attachment — Export to .xml format, rather than sending an “unsafe” .mdb file
Accessbility Aids
Voice input programs and other accessibility aids that use Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA) may be affected, because they use MSAA’s method for programmatically clicking the Send button. See E-mail Security Update Could Hinder Accessibility Aids.
| Tools | |
|---|---|
Use Advanced Security for Outlook to learn what programs are trying to access Outlook and permanently allow or deny access to the program and the next time it requests access, the action you choose will be automatically executed and Outlook Security will not annoy you with messages about trying to access e-mail addresses you have stored in Outlook. Freeware, available in English, German and Russian. Version 1. | |
ClickYes Pro is a tuning tool for Microsoft Outlook security settings. It allows you to configure which applications can automatically send emails using Outlook and access email addresses stored in Outlook address book. ClickYes Pro runs as a background task providing a convenient icon in the taskbar notification area to manage allowed applications. It uses an encrypted storage and is highly secure and safe. Client and Server versions available. Works with Outlook 2000 - Outlook 2010. | |
CodeTwo Outlook WarningDoctor removes the security warnings that appear when sending mail or performing other actions recognized by Microsoft as a "risky" (for example, when you try to read some data using the Outlook or CDO API #. Especially useful for designers of macros, Visual Basic, and programmers of other scripting languages that use the object model.Outlook 2000 and up, including Outlook 2010 64bit. | |
More Information
- Attachment Security Update for Microsoft Outlook — If you want less intrusive protection from potentially harmful attachments.
- Protecting Microsoft Outlook against Viruses

