Summary: Microsoft Outlook will warn you when another program attempts to access its address book because many viruses do so in an attempt to spread.
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A program is trying to access my email addresses - why? |
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.
Related:
Article C2097 - July 4, 2004
You want this article: http://ask-leo.com/ive_forgotten_the_answer_to_my_msn_hotmail_secret_question_and_my_password_what_do_i_do.html
Posted by: Leo at June 30, 2005 9:43 AMi found this solution and it solved the issue for me:
"The solution is to search for PDFMOutlook.dll on your machine. It's probably located here:
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\PDFMaker\Mail\Outlook
Once you find it rename it PDFMOutlook.dllold and your problem is solved.:) "
Posted by: Krys at August 19, 2005 1:00 PMThanks to Brian "swngcat2000"
from: http://forum.osnn.net/archive/index.php/t-38127.html
Maybe a little late to post this, anyway, found a nice solution for this problem. Its called "Advanced security for Outlook" and its a litte freeware program from MapiLab. In my case the message popped up every time I wanted to send a new mail message and the reason was a dll from Adobe (I have Adobe Acrobat Professional on the computer) Look for MapiLab in Google ...
Posted by: Icelocked at August 28, 2005 3:21 AMThe problem with outlook message was fixed by this, thanks very much Brian
Posted by: Roger Bone at January 20, 2006 3:26 PMThe information from Icelocked about MAPILab help me out. Thanks!
Posted by: Chris at February 27, 2006 1:10 PMI have an easier fix.
You just need to disable to Outlook module in Acrobat 6.0.
Browse and look for the file "PDFMOutlook.dll" in c:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat 6.0\PDFMaker\Mail\Outlook.
Then, rename the file to "PDFMOutlook.dll.old"
That should fix the problem
Posted by: Anonymous at June 12, 2006 2:21 PMThanks a pile to Anonymous (June 12/06). Your fix is perfect. One more cause of irritation off the list! By the time this computer is obsolete, it will be working perfectly...
Posted by: Alan at June 27, 2006 12:17 PMThere'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 AM