Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Microsoft Outlook will warn you when another program attempts to access its address book because many viruses do so in an attempt to spread.
A program is trying to access my email addresses - why?
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If you've seen this popup message:
Then you know the question. Why is Outlook telling you that someone is accessing your contacts?
If you have to ask, then chances are the news isn't good.
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Microsoft added this warning to Outlook in response to a series of email-borne viruses that, once they infect, try to spread by sending email to everyone to everyone in your address book. Now, when a program tries to that Outlook asks if it's okay before actually allowing that program to see your contacts.
There are legitimate cases where a program would want to access your address book. For example my cell phone comes with software that allows me to synchronize my address book with one kept on the phone. But the important point is that I know it, and I know when it's happening. If that message pops up at some time when it's not expected then it might be cause for concern.
The concern, of course, is that you might be infected with one of those viruses. And you can guess my advice: update your virus scanner and scan right away.
And for what it's worth, it's a vicious circle: virus writers have found ways around the protection afforded by this feature in Outlook, and Microsoft has patched those vulnerabilities. The virus writers are probably busy at work looking for a new way around those patches.
The moral is the same as my advice: regularly update your virus scanner and scan.
Article C2097 - July 4, 2004
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
There's a terrific Outlook add-in at:
http://www.mapilab.com/outlook/security
that identifies which program is trying to access, and fixes it. It was how I found out that PDFMOutlook.dll is the culprit.
Adobe website acknowledges this as a problem... see
[HTML Link Edited]
www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?event=
Posted by: jon at April 17, 2007 6:57 AMview&id=KC.330069&extid=330069&dialogID=9566778&iterationID=
1&sessionID=48302ba695f58067643c&stateID=0+0+9574381&mode=
simple">http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/knowledgebase/index.cfm?event=
view&id=KC.330069&extid=330069&dialogID=9566778&iterationID=1&sessionID=
48302ba695f58067643c&stateID=0+0+9574381&mode=simple
OK , that is nice but still , i can't see any solution to disable this message if i want that .
Posted by: wail at January 26, 2009 11:28 PMThere are some programs made to run, like microsoft office web apps, they actually do need access.
here's a guide on them: http://www.groovypost.com/howto/microsoft/office/access-microsoft-office-web-apps-tech-preview/
Posted by: baxter at October 16, 2009 1:19 AMthanks jon! this solved it for me http://www.mapilab.com/outlook/security/
Posted by: jb at February 4, 2010 6:50 AMHello JB,
I am also getting same prblem from outlook warning saying that " A program is trying to access email address from outlook" I am using Windows XP and microsoft outlook 2003.I went to the mapilab.com website which u mentioned that has worked for u. But I cud not find teh solution there. I am taken to FAQ'spage when I click on "add-in".kindly help where can I find the add-in? is it free?
Anyone of u if u know soln pls help.Awaiting for ur reply.
Posted by: sanjana at August 3, 2010 5:44 AMhttp://www.mapilab.com/support/faq/?F_Filter=415