Endpoint Protection

 View Only
Expand all | Collapse all

Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

  • 1.  Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 19, 2009 10:12 PM
    A few weeks ago I encountered the problem of blocked hyperlinks in some e-mails viewed in Outlook.  Holding the mouse over the hyperlink and "blockedhttp://....."  would be displayed.  This is not to be confused with "blocked::http://...", which occurs when e-mails were not viewed in the Internet zone.  A review of Outlook forms shows there are a number of people complaining of this problem, with the belief that the fault lies in Outlook and is connected to an update that occured in April.  However, I discovered the same problem exist if the e-mail is viewed using a web mail browser window from the e-mail server. 

    Today I discovered that for a short period of time during the computer boot up the e-mail links are not blocked.  However, at some point in the boot up sequence something changes and the hyperlinks are again blocked.  This makes me suspicious that a virus could be involved.  Endpoint is not detecting anything when the virus scan is run.  Has anyone else seen this problem?


  • 2.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:24 AM
    Are you using the same PCs when using Outlook and using the web mail. If so, either you have a policy on your mail server that someone is adjusting or you could have a new virus. Confirm if the problem is from the same group of PCs and that there is no email policy to modify the email formatting. What are you running on the email server?


  • 3.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:52 AM
    http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=925757

    Not virus related.  Sounds like someone dug out the Office 2007 ADM template and is playing with GPOs maybe?

    I'm not sure of the default, although I'm fairly certain it pops a menu bar up (like the pop-up blocker bar in IE7) and tells you click here to enable links in this email.



  • 4.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:09 PM

    @rwessen: Hi, I checked the link "How to disable hyperlink warning messages in 2007 Office programs" you sent. It explains that clicking on hyperlinks would give you warning messages that it could be harmful if accessed. But still, it seems the right track.

    @Dustoff.Pilot: Are you also having problems with other MS Office applications?



  • 5.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 12:17 PM
    Have you upgraded IE or installed a new service pack recently?


  • 6.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 08:56 PM
    Thanks for all of the replies.  I will respond to all of them below.

    Same PC for both the web mail and Outlook observations of the problem.  Two different POP3 accounts are showing the problem.  I don't know what is running on the servers.  But the accounts are from different organizations.

    This is occurring on Outlook 2003 with SP3.  However, on Outlook Forms there are people complaining this problem is happening with Outlook 2007 also.  There are no pop messages associated with this problem.  The only indication is mousing over the link, a window opens with the address and "blockedhttp://..." is displayed.

    I upgraded from IE7 to IE8 after the problem was observed but it had no effect.  The Microsoft update history shows a lot of security updates but no service pack updates.  I believe the problem began in April but I don't know the exact date.  Possible correlation to "Security Update for Windows XP (KB923561)" but that update was installed on 21 April and the problem may have existed before that.  However, comments in some Outlook forms are blaming it on an update but I have not seen any one tie it to a specific update.


  • 7.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 09:01 PM
    Correction  the following updates were installed on 21 April:

    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB959426) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB961373) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP (KB963027) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool - April 2009 (KB890830) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB956572) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB952004) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Office 2007 Security Update for 2007 Microsoft Office System (KB960003) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB960803) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Office 2003 Security Update for Microsoft Office Excel 2003 (KB959995) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates
    Windows XP Security Update for Windows XP (KB923561) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 Automatic Updates


  • 8.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 20, 2009 11:31 PM
    The suggestion looks more feasible the more I re-read it.
    Pasted some of the procedures here to save you some mouse-clicks. :D

    Disable hyperlink warnings for 2007 Office programs
    To disable the hyperlink warnings in 2007 Office Programs when an http:// address, notes:// or an ftp:// address is used, you must create a new registry subkey. To do this, follow these steps:

    1. Click Start, and then click Run.
    2. In the Open dialog box, type regedit, and then click OK.
    3. In Registry Editor, locate one of the following registry subkeys:
    * HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common
    * HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common
    NoteYou only have to modify one of these registry subkeys. You do not have to modify both of them.
    Note If the Security subkey already exists, skip to Step 6 after selecting the Security subkey.
    4. Click the registry subkey, point to New on the Edit menu, and then click Key.
    5. Type Security, and then press ENTER to name the key.
    6. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD Value.
    7. Type DisableHyperlinkWarning, and then press ENTER to name the entry.
    8. In the right pane, right-click DisableHyperlinkWarning, and then click Modify.
    9. In the Edit DWORD Value dialog box, click Decimal, and then type 1 under Value data.

    Note A value of 0 enables the hyperlink warning message. A value of 1 disables the hyperlink warning message.
    10. Click OK.
    11. Exit Registry Editor.



  • 9.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 21, 2009 03:49 AM
    I have encountered this with Outlook 2003 before, Because of high security. Are your attachments blocked too?


  • 10.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 21, 2009 08:56 PM
    Concern with doing this is I am running Office 2003 not 2007.  The link rwessen provided talks about a number of 2007 products covered by the bulletin but says nothing about 2003.  The * HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\12.0\Common does exist in the registry but the other subkey does not. 


  • 11.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 21, 2009 08:59 PM
    Attachments are not blocked.  Internet zone security settings are medium.  I have tried changing the security zone to a lower level but it had no effect.


  • 12.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 22, 2009 01:40 PM
    This is what I found on Microsoft, not my words:
    "To work around this problem, create a new message in Outlook and type the address of the URL in the message body. " but I guess that's for the "blocked::http://..." and not the other one.

    Do you have other security applications?


  • 13.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 23, 2009 10:38 AM

    There is a simple solution for blocked:: (Double colons), select "view in Internet zone" from the view menu.  I don't have any other security software.  I have been using upgraded versions of Norton for years.



  • 14.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 24, 2009 06:34 PM
    I have been having this problem since upgrading IE.
    I am unable to use any hyperlinks in e-mails, the "blocked::http:www" message comes up.
    I have tried using "View in Internet Zone" but when doing so, the "blocked::" goes away, but I am still unable to activate the hyperlink, nothing happens.
    Any suggestions, again this problem has only just started happening and the only change is to IE.
    I am using Outlook 2003.
    Chris Kimberley


  • 15.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 29, 2009 09:29 AM
    AKO blocked HTML e-mail messages. if this is an AKO related issue.


  • 16.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 29, 2009 11:17 AM
    Have you tried to reset the defaults in IE, clear out the temp files, and cookies?

    Try reinstalling Office if all else fails.

    1.Completely uninstall MSoffice from Add/Remove programs
    2.Backup the registry.
    3.Browse to this registry key
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/office
    4.Rename the office folder
    5.Browse to the registry key
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/software/Microsoft/office
    6.Rename the office folder.
    7.Restart the computer.
    8.Browse to the folder c:\Program files\Microsoft Office.
    9.Rename the Microsoft office folder.
    10.Reinstall MS Office.






  • 17.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 29, 2009 01:25 PM
    it's not internet explorer. it's related to multiple browsers. it's more than likely ako.


  • 18.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted May 29, 2009 02:00 PM
    @ Dustoff.Pilot,

    Are you seeing this issue when sending/receiving AKO (Army email)?

    Thomas



  • 19.  RE: Blocked Hyperlinks in e-mails

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 08:39 PM
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttps]
    @="URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol"
    "URL Protocol"=""
    "EditFlags"=dword:00000002
    "FriendlyTypeName"="@C:\\Windows\\System32\\ieframe.dll,-903"
    "Source Filter"="{E436EBB6-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}"
    "WebNavigableCLSID"="{ae90e550-0443-47fb-a001-4875648d4ed3}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttps\DefaultIcon]
    @="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe,1"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttps\shell]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttps\shell\open]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttps\shell\open\command]
    @="C:\\FF.BAT \"%1\""

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttp]
    @="URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol"
    "URL Protocol"=""
    "EditFlags"=dword:00000002
    "FriendlyTypeName"="@C:\\Windows\\System32\\ieframe.dll,-903"
    "Source Filter"="{E436EBB6-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770}"
    "WebNavigableCLSID"="{ae90e550-0443-47fb-a001-4875648d4ed3}"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttp\DefaultIcon]
    @="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe,1"

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttp\shell]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttp\shell\open]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\blockedhttp\shell\open\command]
    @="C:\\FF.BAT \"%1\""






    *******************************ADD THE ABOVE TO THE REGISTRY*****************************
                    YOU CAN DO THIS BY COPY PASTING
                    INTO NOTEPAD, THEN SAVE AS
                    WHATEVER.REG, THEN MERGE INTO
                    YOUR CURRENT REGISTRY
                    BASICALLY INSTEAD OF CALLING FF
                    RIGHT AWAY, IT TAKES YOUR URL
                    AND THEN CALLS A BATCH FILE
                    THAT WILL REMOVE THE BLOCKED
                    PART OF BLOCKEDHTTP AND
                    BLOCKEDHTTPS, CHANGING IT TO
                    HTTP AND HTTPS RESPECTIVELY

                   YOU CAN ADJUST FOR IE BY
                   REPLACING ALL THE FF STUFF
                   WITH IE STUFF....

                    MAKE THE BELOW PART INTO A
                    BATCH FILE, FF.BAT, AND SAVE
                    TO C:\FF.BAT
    *****************************************************************************************

    SET URL=%~1
    SET URL=%URL:blocked= %
    ECHO CALLEDURL: %URL%
    "C:\PROGRAM FILES\MOZILLA FIREFOX\FIREFOX.EXE" -URL "%URL%"