WashU IT will introduce an external email banner for Microsoft Outlook to boost security and prevent account compromises by highlighting emails from outside the university.
The external email banner will go into production on February 8th, with changes visible within 48 hours. This update affects Microsoft Outlook on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Web. Other clients like Outlook 2016, Thunderbird, and Apple Mail remain unaffected. The banner display will be less intrusive.
Phishing emails, which often impersonate university resources such as names,
tools, and other important information, are responsible for 90% of successful cyber-
attacks. These phishing emails often come from external entities that impersonate
university resources such as names, tools, and other important information. By calling extra attention to external senders, we are hoping our users will be more aware and more cautious with external emails.
If you receive an email with the new External label, carefully evaluate it before acting to avoid any negative impact on WashU. Click here for more information about what the external email banner will look like.