Q: Outlook Web Access has blocked access to attachments

• Outlook sometimes blocks access to attachments. I get the following error message:

Outlook Web Access has blocked access to attachments. Blocked attachments:
file1.com, file1.com.

Context

• Reading email through Outlook Web Access (OWA), http://owa.mit.edu/
• Email is on the Microsoft Exchange server

Answer

It is fairly common for viruses to try to distribute themselves through files with special names. To help protect your computer, Exchange and Outlook do not allow you to receive files of certain types (such as .exe files) as attachments. You can read more about this at:

http://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2852113

The easiest way to receive files like this is to have the sender rename them to an extension that is not blocked, zip the files before sending or use one of the Data Storage and Collaboration Options.