Microsoft Updates File Extension Blocks for Security

Last Wednesday, the Microsoft Exchange Team announced a handful of file extensions that are being added to the list of attachment blocks in Outlook. This change will begin in November. This updated list will help enhance security on Outlook to avoid any possible malicious risks.

According to the Exchange Team blog, the file extensions that are included in this change are as follows:

  • The following extensions are used by the Python scripting language: “.py”, “.pyc”, “.pyo”, “.pyw”, “.pyz”, “.pyzw”
  • The following extensions are used by the PowerShell scripting language: “.ps1”, “.ps1xml”, “.ps2”, “.ps2xml”, “.psc1”, “.psc2”, “.psd1”, “.psdm1”, “.cdxml”, “.pssc”
  • The following extension is used by Windows ClickOnce “.appref-ms”
  • The following extension is used by Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) “.udl”
  • The following extension is used by the Windows sandbox “.wsb”
  • The following extensions are used for digital certificates: “.cer”, “.crt”, “.der”
  • The following extensions are used by the Java programming language: “.jar”, “.jnlp”
  • “.appcontent-ms”, “.settingcontent-ms”, “.cnt”, “.hpj”, “.website”, “.webpnp”, “.mcf”, “.printerexport”, “.pl”, “.theme”, “.vbp”, “.xbap”, “.xll”, “.xnk”, “.msu”, “.diagcab”, “.grp”

If for whatever reason your business, or organization, sees it as a necessity to download any of these attachments, be certain that your computers’ operating system and software are up-to-date. If you would like to add a file extension or remove one, the Exchange Team post has instructions on how to do so.

For inquiries with Microsoft updates, call us at 1-800-620-5285.  Karls Technology is a nationwide computer service company with offices in many major cities. This blog post was brought to you from our staff at the Frisco Computer Repair Service, if you need computer repair in Frisco, TX please call or text the local office at (469) 299-9005.

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