Know How Add-Ins is Developed in MS Outlook
Outlook add-ins can be developed in Visual Studio by IT major Microsoft or with third-party external tools such as Add-in Express etc. However, Outlook add-ins is not supported in Outlook Web App (OWA). Exchange Client Extensions that were supported in Outlook version 97 and onwards were replaced by specific COM components named Outlook Add Ins from Outlook 2000 and later releases. They can be enabled as well as disabled and in this way can be made active/inactive as per need. However though designed for ease they can have adverse affects as well because all add-ins are not good.
Acknowledge the Pros and Cons of Outlook Add-ins
Through there are several advantages associated with some sort of add-ins developed, even disadvantages are linked to some of them. Some are good and safe that in turn enhances productivity as well as renders ease in operation and functionality, while some are highly harmful. Add-ins from untrustworthy source carries malicious software along with them that in turn damages the Outlook data files of PST format. All are not secured and may damage .pst file to an extent that might lead to inaccessibility of all stored data items such as emails, calendars, to-do list, contacts, tasks, journals, etc. In such cases it gets unquestionably important to keep away from disastrous add-ins that may cause harm in future. Know How!
How to Remain Protected from Harmful Add-ins?
One strong method to avoid and remain protected from risky add-ins is security settings in Trust Center of Outlook.
Why? - By default, Outlook allows any installed add-in to be executed. The installed and registered add-ins is allowed to run without notification i.e. by default which can be extremely dangerous at times. Therefore, the security settings can be utilized for add-ins to change such behaviors. Outlook can be restricted to run only such add-ins that is digitally signed.
By applying the warnings for signed macros, all unsigned macros get disabled and the steps as to how the Trust Center should be used are as follows:
- Open Outlook program.
- On the Tools menu which is located at the top left should be clicked and then Trust Center tab should be given a single click as shown in the figure below.
- In the left pane of the window, click option Macro Security shown in red rectangle in the figure below.
- On doing this a window of Macro Security as shown below appears. Then, check the option ‘Warnings for signed macros; all unsigned macros are disabled.’
- Then in the left pane of the same window, click the button Add-ins that is located on left side. On doing this add-ins window opens up.
- Then check the option ‘Apply macro security settings to installed add-ins check box’ located at the bottom of the window and click OK.
Finishing Lines
In this way, Trust Center can be used to apply macro security settings to remain protected from potentially disastrous add-ins. However, if the harmful add-ins has already damaged the Outlook PST file, then external utilities can be used to recover data items. One tool that can be used for the retrieval of items within corrupt data file is Outlook Recovery, the reason being it is highly proficient. Also, there are few other applications too that can be used for the same.
Author Bio – This is a guest post by Peter Baris. He is the author of MS Outlook Tools, Peter has an experience of more than 20 years in the IT industry. He is now working with an expert data recovery firm. Having quality expertise in the Office products, especially in Microsoft Outlook he loves to solve user queries by providing excellently suitable solution.
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