Tech Desk 
Jun 24, 2024
Microsoft Outlook, one of the most widely used email platforms, in which with over 400 million users are dependent on it for their personal and professional communication. However, recent findings regarding the software has raised concerns about the security of the platform.
Microsoft Outlook has left approximately 400 million users exposed to sophisticated phishing attacks putting the users personal data at risk.
The bug was first uncovered by a security researcher Vsevolod Kokorin that could allow anyone to impersonate official Microsoft corporate email accounts by potentially tricking the users into divulging sensitive information.
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However, this security flaw can easily enable attackers to impersonate an official Microsoft cooperate account and send fraudulent emails to the users making it challenging to distinguish between genuine and malicious messages. This vulnerability puts all Outlook users including individuals and businesses at risk as all are relying on the platform for email communication.
Microsoft initially dismissed the Kokorin's report, but after he shared the screenshots of the issue publicly, the company acknowledged the systems bug and then reopened its report to resolve it. However, the tech company has not announced any timeline for a patch or fix yet.
How can you protect and prevent your account?
To minimise the risk these phishing attempts, Outlook users should exercise extreme caution when receiving the emails purporting to be from Microsoft. It is essential to
- Be vigilant and sceptical when receiving emails from Microsoft
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments
- Verify the authenticity of emails by contacting Microsoft directly
- Consider using reputable antivirus software and a virtual private network (VPN)
