Why does Outlook no longer show the original URL on hovering over a link in an email message?

Anonymous
2024-06-01T03:42:17+00:00

Starting in 2019 sometime, Windows Outlook began showing the original URL on hovering over a link in an email message.

Before that, it had only shown the rewritten safelinks version, which is very difficult to read and not at all helpful to someone who's trying to check what's behind that link's display text.

This was a vast improvement, and these days it is essential to be able to quckly check links if people are to have a chance of avoiding phishing traps.

It's particularly important for those users (probably the majority) who wouldn't understand the safelinks URL, and might well assume it's safe because it's a microsoft.com link.

Sadly, though, some time within the last few months my Outlook 365 has reverted to showing the unreadable safelinks URL in both the hover popup and the status bar at the bottom of the Outlook window. I currently have Windows Outlook Version 2404 Build 16.0.17531.20152 Click-to-run.

The safelinks service is good, but there will always be malicious links that get past it, and people need to be able to decide whether or not to click on a link by seeing the actual URL it would go to, not simply assume that safelinks will take care of it.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-08-05T11:47:06+00:00

    I've also noticed this. I can't help wondering: what side they're on.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-08-18T14:12:24+00:00

    I also just noticed that in the new Outlook client on Windows 11. It's a big security issue! Million of people around the world are trained to check the URL first that pops up before they click on a link in their E-Mail...

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-08-14T13:02:29+00:00

    Interesting... MS can't seem to get their story straight. The response I received from MS Support last night was:

    Hello, Thank you for contacting Outlook InApp Support. My name is Saikiran, and I'll be happy to assist. I have taken ownership of this ticket. As per the issue description I understand that you can't hover over links is no longer showing the tooltip destination URL on new Outlook. I am writing to inform you that we have investigated further on the issue you reported with our product. We have identified this to be a known issue that affects some of our customers. We are working hard to resolve this issue as soon as possible and Our apologies for the inconvenience this have caused to your productivity. We appreciate your patience and understanding while we fix this problem. We will notify you once we have a solution available for you. If any of those limitations are critical for your work, we recommend you stay in the Classic Outlook until they are resolved, or you can switch the toggle to go between apps as often as you want. You may switch the toggle "New Outlook" off (top-right), to revert to Classic Outlook. Since there is no further troubleshooting pending from our end, do I have your permission to archive this ticket for now? Hoping for your kind understanding and cooperation in this scenario. Regards, Saikiran

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-06-14T22:36:32+00:00

    I've since discovered that it shows the original address on some messages, but not on others.

    I don't see any pattern to this.

    An update:

    There's been at least one MS 365 update since I posted my original question. Now I'm consistently getting "Original URL" again when I hover over a link. Perhaps it was a mistake and has been corrected?

    I hadn't tried it in Outlook (New) before, but I did try it today.

    It's showing "Protected by Outlook: " followed by the original link, which is good for showing the original link, but I wonder if saying it's "Protected by Outlook" might make people think it's safe to go to that URL anyway ... ?

    Outlook (New) version is 1.2025.605.100 (not visible anywhere that I could find in the app itself. Had to go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, click on the app, then show its "Advanced options").

    'Classic' MS 365 Outlook is version 2405 Build 16.0.17628.20006.

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-06-01T15:44:21+00:00

    Using O365/MS Outlook desktop, when I hover over it shows the correct mail address

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