The Outlook E-Mail Security Update (included in Office 2000 Service Pack 2 and later versions) blocks access to .exe, .com and other “dangerous” files. See Attachment Security for a list of the affected file types. You cannot open these files from Outlook, nor can you use Outlook to save them to your system. If you try to forward a message containing an .exe file, Outlook does not include the attachment in the forwarded message.
With the rash of recent viruses using *.zip files to get past antivirus filters and bypass Outlook’s attachment block, you may want to add the zip extension to the Level1Remove key to force users to save zips to their hard drive before opening or block access to zip files completely by adding zip to the Level1Add key.
So what do you do when you receive an .exe file and must find a way to open it? There are several methods, depending on your version of Outlook.
Recent Outlook Versions | Import to Outlook Express | Outlook Web Access | Tools | More Information
Recent Outlook Versions
Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007, Outlook 2003, Outlook 2002 and Outlook 2000 SP3 (but not Outlook 98 or earlier Outlook 2000 versions) allow the user to use a registry key to open up access to blocked attachments. (Always make a backup before editing the registry.) To use this key:
- Run Regedit, and go to this key:HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Security
(change 10.0 to 9.0 for Outlook 2000 SP3 or to 11.0 for Outlook 2003, 12.0 for Outlook 2007, 14.0 for Outlook 2010 ) - Under that key, add a new string value named Level1Remove.
- For the value for Level1Remove, enter a semicolon-delimited list of file extensions. For example, entering this:
.mdb;.urlwould unblock Microsoft Access files and Internet shortcuts. Note that the use of a leading dot was not previously required, however, new security patches may require it. If you are using “mdb;url” format and extensions are blocked, add a dot to each extension. Note also that there is not a space between extensions.
If you are using this registry entry, a glance at Help | About Microsoft Outlook will show Security Mode: User Controlled above the license information. See OL2002 You Cannot Open Attachments for more information on this registry entry.
To force users to save *.zip files to the hard drive before opening, add .zip to the extensions step 3. See How to configure Outlook to block additional attachment file name extensions for more information.
If you prefer not to edit the registry directly, you can use one of the tools below to make the change; not all support both Outlook 2002 and 2000.
After applying this registry fix or using one of the tools, the user still has to save the attached file to a system drive before opening it. In effect, the fix rolls the attachment behavior back to Outlook 2000 SR-1, with its included Attachment Security Fix. An end-user cannot bypass this “save to disk” behavior and open the file directly from the mail message, though an Exchange administrator can.
Import to Outlook Express
The newest versions of Outlook Express block attachments by default. To retrieve attachments, click Forward and save the attachment from the message, then close. It can also be disabled in OE’s Tools | Options | Security dialog.
You can use either of the above methods to access .exe files from Outlook messages imported to OE. To make this process easier, consider creating a separate folder in Outlook to which you copy messages with attachments that you want to import. To import into OE, use OE’s File | Import command.
Outlook Web Access
If you work in a Microsoft Exchange Server environment where Outlook Web Access is deployed, you may be able to use OWA to open messages and get the attachments. Exchange Server 2000′s OWA has no attachment security, while Exchange 2003 added attachment security to OWA.
Tools in the Spotlight
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. |
Tools
Administrative Options for the Microsoft Outlook E-mail Security Patch | These options work in an Exchange Server or HP OpenMail environment and allow the administrator to decide who can open what kinds of files. They are not applicable to end users. |
COM add-in by Outlook MVP Ken Slovak that adds an Attachment Security Options page to the Tools, Options dialog in Outlook 2000 SP3 or higher to allow you to manage which file attachments are blocked. New version adds support for the .gadget extension for Outlook 2003 SP3 and Outlook 2007 SP1. It also adds detection for those SP levels. Shareware. Version 1.9.6 | |
"Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachment ..." If you get this message when attempting to access an Outlook email attachment you'll want to install Attachment Security for Outlook; a free program for unlocking attachments blocked by Outlook. Attachment Security for Microsoft Outlook is a free and easy to use software program that allows you to open attachments blocked by Microsoft Outlook e-mail security. | |
Use CodeTwo Attach Unblocker to configure Microsoft Outlook to allow the openig of the attachments blocked by default (for example, .exe, .url, .reg). The program is an Outlook extension; its settings are available at the property sheet in the Outlook options, which ensures quick and convenient editing. Supports all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2010 64-bit | |
Control what attachments Outlook has deemed to be unsafe and be free to open any attachment you like. You can also add to the default list of blocked attachment types. Controlling the safe and blocked attachments has never been easier. Includes the full and complete list of what Outlook will block by default. (Outlook 2000, XP, 2003 or greater) | |
Add-in for adjusting which attachments you can open under Outlook's increased security, for Outlook 2000 SP3 and later. Free | |
Free tool for setting up how Microsoft Outlook block (or not) e-mail attachments. Get rid of the message "Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments". Beta |
Notes
We’ve heard of some other approaches:
- Editing the Outllib.dll file with a hex editor to overwrite the extensions listed for “dangerous” files (e.g. the method used at Is there any way to work around the Outlook security update?)
- If you installed Office 2000 Service Pack 2, substituting the Outllib.dll and Outllibr.dll files from Service Release 1.
- For Office 2000 SP2, downloading the administrative version of SP2 and deleting the .msp file that contains the Outlook updates, then installing SP2.
However, these methods put Outlook into an unsupported, potentially unstable configuration, and we don’t recommend them. In particular, the last two ensure that you do not get any of the Outlook in Office 2000 SP2.
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Last reviewed on Dec 8, 2011
This Help page doesn’t help. I wanted to know how to prevent the “security concern” messages from popping up again and again—even after the items of concerrn have been disabled.? I have to cancel them each time I go into my email. How do youget rid of those things?
I’m not sure which dialog that is. Can you post the screenshot somewhere and post the url here or email me a screenshot? (diane at slipstick)
I am unable to open any links in outlook it blocks everything says I have no access. What can I do to get this reversed. If I want to look at a job posting it will not let me access that job description
Is that the ‘this operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect’ error? If so, see Restrictions in Effect information – Edit Registry part 2 or Alan’s solution work for most people.