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Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
#47384 01/04/18 05:53 PM
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kevs Offline OP
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My friend pointed out that when he received an email from me, my email links are 6 lines of gobble gook.

I think I've boiled it down to the fact he uses Outlook with Hotmail.. though I think Outlook is the culprit.

Do others notice this? That those with Outlook receives an email link/ signature it will be instead of the clean simple link you send, a 5-7 line jumble?

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47390 01/05/18 03:33 AM
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Can you have him send you the jumbled gobbldygook he sees?


Photo gallery, all about me, and more: www.xeromag.com/franklin.html
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
tacit #47391 01/05/18 03:52 AM
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ok Tacit, well I deleted name, so links dont work. I could PM you the real exact one. but this is the gist of what he sees:


My Name

(310)-555-9999

Homepage web

https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. 39d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C7561851147&sdata=%2FXMa4WUgrEg3A6Fj%2BHWjH8J6Vz6FE%
2Bv5beJjnxUK%2FAU%3D&reserved=0
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww. d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%61851147&sdata=cq5CR3KnumZnKO1jRotL4iscxAB4n0CGBxe%
2B7iSCJAY%3D&reserved=0

Facebook

https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%7C24245050a3ca41bd608408d5539d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636506857561851147&sdata=AB0ZJtEsrxYGgkmXVx72BZ7SkBAMb%
2BKWNdKx3ggTEOc%3D&reserved=0
https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finstagram.cod608408d5539d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636506857561851147&sdata=
yXHxGzXeJrZqj8lsSwM4XXJRk8msv1kgWYMhTejB6pI%3D&reserved=0

Twitter

https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F
twitter.com%2bd608408d5539d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636506857561851147&sdata=
o0YigTePxiH80ZRClZvl6nT18XHbethTdezS8nBrg2M%3D&reserved=0
Linkedin https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%25050a3ca41bd608408d5539d5595%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636506857561851147&sdata=dhKhNWHppWf7P6Jgdn80S%
2FltLr64D7wnL4%2BvH53e%2BB4%3D&reserved=0

edited by MacManiac to avoid stretching all subsequent posts....

Last edited by MacManiac; 01/10/18 12:49 AM.
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47403 01/05/18 07:24 PM
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that looks like outlook is modifying the embedded URLs in the email to redirect through one of their servers, probably to verify it's not malware or phish, and to block it if it is?


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
Virtual1 #47404 01/05/18 07:42 PM
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kevs Offline OP
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Am I at fault or is Outlook at fault?


Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47407 01/05/18 08:41 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
Am I at fault or is Outlook at fault?

maybe? or could be some software running on their end that's doing the magic. I'd first suspect it's a "feature" on the recipient's Outlook.


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
Virtual1 #47408 01/05/18 08:49 PM
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kevs Offline OP
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V
ok so it's not all Outlook users, then are seeing this chaos from me. My friend, has some setting causing the chaos?

He wont now what it is, he'll blame it on me... he'll probably say, "I don't see this with anyone else.."

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47450 01/08/18 02:42 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
V
ok so it's not all Outlook users, then are seeing this chaos from me. My friend, has some setting causing the chaos?

He wont now what it is, he'll blame it on me... he'll probably say, "I don't see this with anyone else.."


Anything I could say here would be purely speculation. Could be security software installed on that one user's computer. Could be something running on their mailserver. Could be a setting in outlook. (I'm not too familiar with outlook on windows, it's a complicated beast)


I work for the Department of Redundancy Department
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
Virtual1 #47452 01/08/18 03:05 PM
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FWIW I just searched on "nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com" that appears in all the gobbledegook and got a lot of hits in the Microsoft forums citing a variety of problems. It is part of an enhanced protection system. Social network links appear to be a common issue in one way or another. I didn't look at all the hits but Microsoft's answer was often ask your server administrator to turn the system off. Perhaps had I dug deeper I might have found another solution.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
joemikeb #47456 01/08/18 08:40 PM
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Thanks Joe, so bottom line: something with Outlook...

And my friends reply will be, "we'll a lot of people use Outlook"..


ie his implication is the fault is on my end, as millions use Outlook, and I should make it so they don't see all this gogglygook

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47459 01/08/18 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: keys
hanks Joe, so bottom line: something with Outlook...

And my friends reply will be, "we'll a lot of people use Outlook"..


ie his implication is the fault is on my end, as millions use Outlook, and I should make it so they don't see all this gogglygook

Probably! If you want to keep your friend happy you could delete the links in the signature before you send him an email.

To be truthful in this day of lots of bad guys creating lots of exploits, many folks, especially businesses, are getting very touchy about files or links in the email they receive. Many companies have been hit by exploits entering their security zone by similar means. Obviously Microsoft considers the threat to be strong enough for them to develop and include protections in Outlook and their servers. You may need to reconsider having the links in your signature. frown


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
joemikeb #47463 01/09/18 02:29 AM
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Thanks Joe, Link can be bad? Never crossed my mind.

So I have the website link or two.

The 3-4 social media links.

Reduce then?

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47472 01/09/18 03:51 PM
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I am no expert, but my rudimentary search on "safelinks protection" turned up a number of threads in Microsoft's forums complaining of issues with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social websites being blocked or somehow messed with by Safelinks. But from what you posted that your friend is seeing all of your links including your website is being gobbledygooked. (I may have invented a new world there 😃). Based on that, I suspect the problem is at least partially unique to your friend's Outlook and completely beyond your control. It could be a configuration setting in Outlook, Outlook Server, or Safelinks. It could be a glitch in his HTML rendering engine or even as obscure as a non-printing character embedded in your signature that most systems ignore but in his unique case it causes his rendering engine to stumble. (How is that for adding gobbledygook to gobbledegook? 🤪)

If your friend is willing to work with you, you could test by sending a series of test messages…
  • your current signature with the included links
  • your current signature with your website link but deleting the Facebook and Twitter links
  • Recreate your signature with all of the links included (NOTE: don't copy or block copy anything, recreate everything from scratch)
That should identify possible problems within your span of control. If your friend has gobbledygook in all of these cases there is nothing you can do except delete all the links in your signature. What you don't know at that point is whether others using Outlook are getting gobbledygook or just those with a specific Outlook version or the issue is unique just to your friend. Then you have a decision to make whether to leave the links in or take them out.

VAGRANT THOUGHT: If by any chance you are using shortened URLs try full URLs or vice-versa.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
joemikeb #47479 01/09/18 05:47 PM
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kevs Offline OP
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Thanks Joe, good info.. at least I know what going on if I hear t his again. My guess mostly Outlook issue but who knows..

I'm gong to bail most link with my high end clients and friend emails..

I think long urls (what is shortened?)

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47489 01/09/18 10:16 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
I think long urls (what is shortened?)

Long URLs is the full address. But you can make custom ‘shorthands’ for those long addresses, e.g. if every character counts. It requires an additional lookup when the URL is accessed again, but that is often no issue at all. There are several suppliers of this service: e.g. goo.gl, bit.ly, tinyurl.com, is.gd (open to all), and some community-restricted ones (e.g. LinkedIn, Ow.ly). (If you have your own domain and server, you could probably install something similar for yourself.)

E.g. http://bit.ly/2DeFuF1
as link shortener for https://www.finetunedmac.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=47479#Post47479

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
Urquhart #47495 01/10/18 01:55 AM
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kevs Offline OP
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ok U ; yeah for Twitter, no need for my emails..

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47609 01/16/18 11:54 PM
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Joe- Others This just in now. Client asked my opinon on travel cameras and I gave some link, when he replied back I see these grotesque long links, and it says safe links/ Outlook

So is just shows to me, am I being too harsh how antiquated and pathetic Outlook is, not my links, just links to a major camera site...


This is ugliness people are subjected to by replies from those using outlook

Image were taken with the:
Sony DSC- RX100—
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1209681-REG%2Fsony_cyber_shot_dsc_rx100_digital_camera.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C7fb2720ba4d649950a4508d55af59162%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636514933102682821&sdata=JFPx7%2Fnzh98hUYV36k3SATBTGCoTK%2BLD4OlSKDteVvc%3D&reserved=0
New Version bit more
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fproduct%2F1049537-REG%2Fsony_dscrx100m3_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx100_iii_digital.html&data=02%7C01%7C%7C7fb2720ba4d649950a4508d55af59162%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636514933102682821&sdata=Ljllb73pyxb3b4zZfk9B4I0i%2F7vR%2FFRhmnMLJBRJFnc%3D&reserved=0


Cannon Gx5
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fbnh%2Fcontroller%2Fhome%3FA%3Ddetails%26O%3D%26Q%3D%26ap%3Dy%26c3api%3D1876%252C%257Bcreative%257D%252C%257Bkeyword%257D%26gclid%3DEAIaIQobChMI88zJ6bDW2AIVArbACh0-gAcHEAQYASABEgI1t_D_BwE%26is%3DREG%26m%3DY%26sku%3D1188052&data=02%7C01%7C%7C7fb2720ba4d649950a4508d55af59162%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636514933102682821&sdata=%2BHA1jbK46jiBDNP0b24E86PY2HXBwKfcUiA7Bp%2BZ7yc%3D&reserved=0

Or cheaper still but good sensor gx9 (and tad smaller)
https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bhphotovideo.com%2Fc%2Fsearch%3FNtt%3Dcannon%2520gx9%26N%3D0%26InitialSearch%3Dyes%26sts%3Dma%26Top%2BNav-Search&data=02%7C01%7C%7C7fb2720ba4d649950a4508d55af59162%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636514933102682821&sdata=TuUl1FiTcrxsS52w2gh2VroYIPbsDh3RUELQpX5ajfk%3D&reserved=0=

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47610 01/17/18 12:01 AM
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I use Short URL. I don't believe that it is still available, but if you go to App Store and search for Short URL, you'll find URL Shortener and LinkShortener.


Jon

macOS 11.7.10, iMac Retina 5K 27-inch, late 2014, 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 1 TB fusion drive, 16 GB RAM, Epson SureColor P600, Photoshop CC, Lightroom CC, MS Office 365
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
jchuzi #47611 01/17/18 12:02 AM
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Thanks Jon, I can't be bothered are you kidding? I'm going to hassle shortening all my url email links for the X % using Outlook?

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47612 01/17/18 12:53 AM
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I just found Advanced Outlook.com security for Office 365 subscribers which, at the very bottom, says

Quote:
Can I deactivate these security features?

To provide the best protection for your account, these features are on by default and not designed to be turned off. You can contact our customer service team via in-product support to have them deactivate the features on your behalf, but we do not recommend it.

It may be your answer.

More: It sounds like the turn-off affects only mail you receive, so those to whom you send mail who use Outlook will have to do the same turn-off.

Last edited by artie505; 01/17/18 02:37 AM. Reason: More

The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47618 01/17/18 02:56 PM
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I wonder if instead of sending the URL, you sent a link, the ugliness would be hidden. If so that should work for all your clients regardless of what email client they are using.


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
joemikeb #47620 01/17/18 04:55 PM
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Sorry Joe, did not understand. I'm sending links; live links that they can click on and go to BH photo store...

Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
kevs #47621 01/17/18 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted By: kevs
Sorry Joe, did not understand. I'm sending links; live links that they can click on and go to BH photo store…

If I am misunderstanding your use of the term link please excuse me. I am thinking about the technique where through the use of HTML coding (In most cases hidden from both sender and receiver) a single word or phrase when clicked triggers a URL to execute. Not that it would eliminate all the SafeLink gobbledygook rather it would hide the gobbledygook from view. Unfortunately I have no convenient way of testing my hypothesis. (HTML & URL in the preceding are examples of what I am talking about.)


If we knew what it was we were doing, it wouldn't be called research, would it?

— Albert Einstein
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
joemikeb #47622 01/17/18 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted By: joemikeb
Not that it would eliminate all the SafeLink gobbledygook rather it would hide the gobbledygook from view.

I'm at a loss as to why Microsoft hasn't hidden the gobbledygook unilaterally; there have got to be an awful lot of users who are unhappy about it.


The new Great Equalizer is the SEND button.

In Memory of Harv: Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. ~Voltaire
Re: Email signature 6 lines for people using outlook
artie505 #47623 01/18/18 12:32 AM
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kevs Offline OP
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YES, thanks guys!


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