URL addresses (XP SP2)

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Folks

The latest Woody’s WINDOWS Watch suggests in its phishing article that you can ‘hover’ over a URL link and see the actual address.

How?
In my version of Outlook with either the preview pane, or the mail message double-clicked, all I get is the handpointer icon and no decoding of the URL anywhere I can see.
What do I expect to see, and where?

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Replies

You and Woody have more confidence than me in your filters and anti-virus software.

It sounds like you don’t have your status bar enabled.

Try going to a Preview Pane view. Then choose View on the main menu and – after the menu auto-hide has dropped out – make sure you’ve got Status Bar checked. You should then see the actual link in the Status Bar when you hover over the typed URL.

HTH

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unkamunka

Thanks for the prompt reply.

Status bar is selected and shows me things like counts of items and progress on send/receive – still no joy with URL display though.

As an aside – I didn’t say I ‘clicked’ the URL’s – my goal is to be able to see what address they are (even from the good guys). I’d always wondered why it wasn’t provided in Outlook – and now find its something to do with my configuration – surprise surprise.

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It may be something to do with your security settings. If the link is live, then the URL shows in the Preview Pane.

There have been instances of virus/trojan/phone home activity where all that was required was that the message was viewed in the Preview Pane. Woody himself has mentioned this. In terms of harm to your computer, this has been very rare. OTOH there is word of virtually invisible image links that can tell a spammer that an address is genuine. In that context, various email packages have started introducing an option to block all external links (which can make reading some HTML mail rather difficult).

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Once again, thanks unkamunka.

I’ve included a picture of the screen. While the mousepointer does not show – it is a hand, hovering over the URL link.
I cannot see anything strange with any of my settings.
I’m running both AVG anit-virus, and ‘Junk-Out’ anti-spam package. As always, I’m sure that these cannot be causing it .

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Andrew, I don’t know what more to suggest. Perhaps you could try to use Leif’s method. This works with opened – rather than Preview Pane – messages.

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I have similarly failed to find a way display the url/mailto: in HTML emails.
The only method I have found is to left-click and hold the link, then drag it to the subject line and release it. This displays the full url without activating it. (I hope!)

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Learn something new everyday! Nice one, Leif

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Hi

When I upgraded from Office 2000 to XP I noticed the fact that the preview URL in status bar no longer worked.

I have checked all my security settings with no luck. I run 2000 on my work desktop and XP on my personal laptop, so I can directly compare the two.

I have caught a comment from a member of the Outlook Newsgroup that says that it is available in OE but not Outlook, but I KNOW it is available in Outlook2000!

Status bar enabled, preview pane turned on, no URL. I don’t like the hassle of having to copy and paste any shortcut just to see if it is a phishing scam, or even a place that I do or dont want to visit…

Anyone got any solutions?

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Look again at Leif‘s suggestion in post 277811. It’s not copy and paste. Another alternative is to right-click and choose View Source.

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I read Liefs original message and carried out his instructions, so I stand totally by my initial post. How about re-reading my initial post and that of AndrewO to understand our first ‘gripe’.

Okay, not Cut & Paste, Drag & Drop then. Amounts to the same thing.

Totally more effort than ‘hover and see’ in preview pane.

Three major actions (open email, drag link, drop on subject line) to Lief’s solution. One minor one (hover over link in preview pane), with absolutely none extra if you want to carry on reading the mail with Outlook2000’s original URL view in status bar. You have to enact at least two more to return to your inbox with Lief’s solution (click close, click ‘no’ on ‘do you want to save changes’).

No dig at Lief, ain’t his fault, kudos for digging it out and posting it as the only solution to our niggle.

I dev in HTML, and even then I want something easier than scrolling through the various forms of HTML thrown up by no good WYSIWYG editors (like Word, pah) just to check whether the email I got was from PayPal or eBay rather than some phishing pondlife, especially with the latest IE ‘secret character’ scam.

Works like a Dream (pun intended) in Outlook2000

Works like my Triumph Herald in Outlook XP (meaning, works like a 36 year old, under junk in garage, classic of British automotive engineering; it doesn’t)

Any other solutions?

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The only thing I can offer is the attached LinkLister macro, which will pop up a Note with a list of all the links and their associated visible text (or the associated image file name). The links in the Note are editable and clickable, so you can remove tracking information before clicking. Does that offset the inconvenience of having to click a button or use a shortcut key to run it? (Maybe not, but it’s all I’ve got.)

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Sounds like it is at least better than wot I got!

Now is your chance to shoot me as a Noob. How the F do I use it?

I have searched around, but not come up with any simple instructions on actually using VBA stuff that I know is safe (making a slight assumption, but I am guessing that anything downloaded from wopr.com is safe), all I have found out is that .bas extensions could be malware, not how to use .bas that is okay…

Can you help?

Cheers
Keiran

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Try looking at the opening steps of this post for a “how to” description of setting up an Outlook code Module.

On “shoot me as a Noob”, as it says in our Rules: “The Lounge is meant to be a place for friendly conversation.” Generally speaking, we are all here to learn more and share about things we are interested in; not to show off. Very, very rarely do we have to caution people for using unfriendly language.

HTH

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Thanks Unka…

Still a couple of extra steps, but I guess if I am really unsure it is merely a couple of keystrokes.

Cheers to the both of you from this Noob!

Keiran

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Thanks Unka…

Still a couple of extra steps, but I guess if I am really unsure it is merely a couple of keystrokes.

Cheers to the both of you from this Noob!

Keiran

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Try looking at the opening steps of this post for a “how to” description of setting up an Outlook code Module.

On “shoot me as a Noob”, as it says in our Rules: “The Lounge is meant to be a place for friendly conversation.” Generally speaking, we are all here to learn more and share about things we are interested in; not to show off. Very, very rarely do we have to caution people for using unfriendly language.

HTH

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What I posted, inside the ZIP file, is a BAS file, an exported VBA code module. To get this up and running in Outlook:

1. Extract the BAS file to somewhere easy to find.
2. Open the Visual Basic Editor from inside Outlook (Alt+F11).
3. Choose File>Import and import the BAS file. If you are displaying the Project Explorer, you will see it added to your modules.
4. Save and close the VBE to return to Outlook.
5. Choose Tools>Customize…, Commands tab, Macros, and drag the new LinkLister macro to a convenient toolbar or menu. Right click the button and re-style as desired. (If you make it a toolbar button and name it Lin&kLister, it will appear as LinkLister and Alt+K will activate it.)

Hope this helps.

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Thanks js

That reduces it to one step… Can’t seem to get the keyboard shortcut to work, named it Lin&kLister (as well as &LinkLister and Li&nkLister) to no avail, but a button on a toolbar is 10 times better than what I had before.

Top Job, thanks all

Keiran

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If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work, it usually means there is a duplicate. I don’t have any other K shortcuts, but we might be showing different toolbars. On one of my buttons I arbitrarily use X to get around this problem.

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No duplicate, but a bit more experimentation turns up the reason!

If the icon is set either to ‘default style’ (which in my case is no text) or ‘image only’ the shortcut does not work. If the text is visible on the toolbar (with its accompanying underscore) the keyboard shortcut works like a dream… Strange behavious indeed.

At least now I have the closest solution I think possible to the original problem (although with associated security warnings about running macros the first time I run it each Outlook session), a one keystroke report of all the URLs.

Thanks a whole bunch, and well done Unka on your new status!

Kd

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On the shortcut, you can save “Toolbar real esate” by setting it to text only with a single letter (the Hotkey) letter. Given that it’s a single letter, it becomes relatively obvious what it’s for.

For the Macro warning, you can sign your code – for which Microsoft have provided a simple option using SelfCert.exe in the C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice directory. The certificate will then be available for signing through the Tools option on the VBE Worksheet Menu Bar. You will probably have to have the SelfCert certificate recognised by Windows as a Trusted Certificate. This procedure is not wholly intuitive.

Make sure you choose View Certificate first – as that is the first step in getting it properly registered – for which you need to choose the Details|Copy to File option. Finally, you will have to export it to a file from Control Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates|Personal|Export, and then reimport it to the Trusted Store using Control Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates|Trusted Publishers|Import.

You do have to lower your default Macro security level, when first running the Workbook containing the signed code, to get the option to trust the signer.

HTH

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OK

I have been bouncing around this certificate signing problem for about an hour and a half now….

I have run SelfCert.exe and created a certificate in my name. I have exported it to a file and then imported it to the Trusted Root Certification Authorities area in Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates (see attachment) as that was the closest one to ‘Trusted Publishers’ as ‘import’ is not an option on the ‘Trusted Publishers’ box (see attachment)

I have opened the VB editor and signed the project, and restarted Outlook, but I do not ever get asked whether it is ok to trust the macro, all I get is a dialogue box every time I use it (see attachment), which after I click OK (with or without the tickbox) the macro works, but everytime I restart Outlook and use the macro it asks again.

All the instructions I have seen about SelfCert talk about Outlook 2000, and I am using Outlook XP. Does that make any difference?

Cheers
Keiran

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It does appear that your Digital Signature has taken – as you are no longer asked to trust. (The set-up you have for Trusted Authorities is slightly different from mine. Apologies for any confusion.)

In relation to the Dialogue Box, you will probably need either ClickYes – as outlined in this post – or one of the other solutions mentioned there.

SelfCert was new in Office 2000. It does apply to Office XP and to Office 2003.

HTH

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It does appear that your Digital Signature has taken – as you are no longer asked to trust. (The set-up you have for Trusted Authorities is slightly different from mine. Apologies for any confusion.)

In relation to the Dialogue Box, you will probably need either ClickYes – as outlined in this post – or one of the other solutions mentioned there.

SelfCert was new in Office 2000. It does apply to Office XP and to Office 2003.

HTH

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OK

I have been bouncing around this certificate signing problem for about an hour and a half now….

I have run SelfCert.exe and created a certificate in my name. I have exported it to a file and then imported it to the Trusted Root Certification Authorities area in Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates (see attachment) as that was the closest one to ‘Trusted Publishers’ as ‘import’ is not an option on the ‘Trusted Publishers’ box (see attachment)

I have opened the VB editor and signed the project, and restarted Outlook, but I do not ever get asked whether it is ok to trust the macro, all I get is a dialogue box every time I use it (see attachment), which after I click OK (with or without the tickbox) the macro works, but everytime I restart Outlook and use the macro it asks again.

All the instructions I have seen about SelfCert talk about Outlook 2000, and I am using Outlook XP. Does that make any difference?

Cheers
Keiran

Reply | Quote

On the shortcut, you can save “Toolbar real esate” by setting it to text only with a single letter (the Hotkey) letter. Given that it’s a single letter, it becomes relatively obvious what it’s for.

For the Macro warning, you can sign your code – for which Microsoft have provided a simple option using SelfCert.exe in the C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice directory. The certificate will then be available for signing through the Tools option on the VBE Worksheet Menu Bar. You will probably have to have the SelfCert certificate recognised by Windows as a Trusted Certificate. This procedure is not wholly intuitive.

Make sure you choose View Certificate first – as that is the first step in getting it properly registered – for which you need to choose the Details|Copy to File option. Finally, you will have to export it to a file from Control Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates|Personal|Export, and then reimport it to the Trusted Store using Control Panel|Internet Options|Content|Certificates|Trusted Publishers|Import.

You do have to lower your default Macro security level, when first running the Workbook containing the signed code, to get the option to trust the signer.

HTH

Reply | Quote

No duplicate, but a bit more experimentation turns up the reason!

If the icon is set either to ‘default style’ (which in my case is no text) or ‘image only’ the shortcut does not work. If the text is visible on the toolbar (with its accompanying underscore) the keyboard shortcut works like a dream… Strange behavious indeed.

At least now I have the closest solution I think possible to the original problem (although with associated security warnings about running macros the first time I run it each Outlook session), a one keystroke report of all the URLs.

Thanks a whole bunch, and well done Unka on your new status!

Kd

Reply | Quote

If the keyboard shortcut doesn’t work, it usually means there is a duplicate. I don’t have any other K shortcuts, but we might be showing different toolbars. On one of my buttons I arbitrarily use X to get around this problem.

Reply | Quote

Thanks js

That reduces it to one step… Can’t seem to get the keyboard shortcut to work, named it Lin&kLister (as well as &LinkLister and Li&nkLister) to no avail, but a button on a toolbar is 10 times better than what I had before.

Top Job, thanks all

Keiran

Reply | Quote

What I posted, inside the ZIP file, is a BAS file, an exported VBA code module. To get this up and running in Outlook:

1. Extract the BAS file to somewhere easy to find.
2. Open the Visual Basic Editor from inside Outlook (Alt+F11).
3. Choose File>Import and import the BAS file. If you are displaying the Project Explorer, you will see it added to your modules.
4. Save and close the VBE to return to Outlook.
5. Choose Tools>Customize…, Commands tab, Macros, and drag the new LinkLister macro to a convenient toolbar or menu. Right click the button and re-style as desired. (If you make it a toolbar button and name it Lin&kLister, it will appear as LinkLister and Alt+K will activate it.)

Hope this helps.

Reply | Quote

Sounds like it is at least better than wot I got!

Now is your chance to shoot me as a Noob. How the F do I use it?

I have searched around, but not come up with any simple instructions on actually using VBA stuff that I know is safe (making a slight assumption, but I am guessing that anything downloaded from wopr.com is safe), all I have found out is that .bas extensions could be malware, not how to use .bas that is okay…

Can you help?

Cheers
Keiran

Reply | Quote

The only thing I can offer is the attached LinkLister macro, which will pop up a Note with a list of all the links and their associated visible text (or the associated image file name). The links in the Note are editable and clickable, so you can remove tracking information before clicking. Does that offset the inconvenience of having to click a button or use a shortcut key to run it? (Maybe not, but it’s all I’ve got.)

Reply | Quote

I read Liefs original message and carried out his instructions, so I stand totally by my initial post. How about re-reading my initial post and that of AndrewO to understand our first ‘gripe’.

Okay, not Cut & Paste, Drag & Drop then. Amounts to the same thing.

Totally more effort than ‘hover and see’ in preview pane.

Three major actions (open email, drag link, drop on subject line) to Lief’s solution. One minor one (hover over link in preview pane), with absolutely none extra if you want to carry on reading the mail with Outlook2000’s original URL view in status bar. You have to enact at least two more to return to your inbox with Lief’s solution (click close, click ‘no’ on ‘do you want to save changes’).

No dig at Lief, ain’t his fault, kudos for digging it out and posting it as the only solution to our niggle.

I dev in HTML, and even then I want something easier than scrolling through the various forms of HTML thrown up by no good WYSIWYG editors (like Word, pah) just to check whether the email I got was from PayPal or eBay rather than some phishing pondlife, especially with the latest IE ‘secret character’ scam.

Works like a Dream (pun intended) in Outlook2000

Works like my Triumph Herald in Outlook XP (meaning, works like a 36 year old, under junk in garage, classic of British automotive engineering; it doesn’t)

Any other solutions?

Reply | Quote

Look again at Leif‘s suggestion in post 277811. It’s not copy and paste. Another alternative is to right-click and choose View Source.

Reply | Quote

Hi

When I upgraded from Office 2000 to XP I noticed the fact that the preview URL in status bar no longer worked.

I have checked all my security settings with no luck. I run 2000 on my work desktop and XP on my personal laptop, so I can directly compare the two.

I have caught a comment from a member of the Outlook Newsgroup that says that it is available in OE but not Outlook, but I KNOW it is available in Outlook2000!

Status bar enabled, preview pane turned on, no URL. I don’t like the hassle of having to copy and paste any shortcut just to see if it is a phishing scam, or even a place that I do or dont want to visit…

Anyone got any solutions?

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Interesting thread

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On 2003, I get a tooltip in HTML mail but none in plain text. In principle, it is HTML where the risks arise. HTH

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On 2003, I get a tooltip in HTML mail but none in plain text. In principle, it is HTML where the risks arise. HTH

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Interesting thread

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