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Solved: Microsoft Office Has Identified a Potential Security Concern

Switch up trusted locations to avoid security concerns

5 min. read

Updated onAugust 2, 2024

updated onAugust 2, 2024

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If you’re using one of the apps from the Microsoft Office suite and spot a Microsoft Officehas identified a potential security concernmessage, it’s possible that your system has been exposed to vulberabilities.

TheMicrosoft Office has identified a potential security concernmessage may appear on any Microsoft Office app but is commonly experienced on Outlook mail.

This is because cyber attackers use phishing links to target their victims so a suspicious link may be flagged off if it’s from an unknown sender or unverified email address.

How can I fix theMicrosoft Office has identified a potential security concernerror?

1. Start Outlook in Safe Mode

By starting your chosen Microsoft Office app in Safe Mode, you’re limiting the number of features such as add-ins and bypassing some customized settings. This can help isolate the issue as you narrow down the main pain points.

Keep in mind thatMicrosoft could be having potential server issuesso ensure theserver statusis active too.

2. Disable Protected View

While disabling Protected View further increases the potential to risk factors, it can be used as a troubleshooting method to see if it is blocking legitimate links and files.

3. Scan for viruses

When Microsoft Office identifies a potential security risk, some features may be disabled. A malicious file may have found its way to your system from a link in an email or even an add-in that is manipulating your settings.

The loophole may have opened up if your antivirus is not up-to-date so ensure you keep up with the latest security patches for your security software to work efficiently. Alternatively, you caninstall a Microsoft-dedicated antiviruslikeESET HOME Security Essentialto run an in-depth scan and remove all malicious threats from your device.

4. Add/change trusted location

Trusted locations usually contain your add-ins settings, customizations and macros for your Office apps. If you modify these trusted locations, you’re re-creating a safe storage space for these files and once downloaded to your system, Microsoft Office will consider them safe.

5. Create a new Outlook profile

A new profile allows you to start on a clean slate without your downloaded add-ins and customized settings. If the new profile does not bring up theMicrosoft Office has identified a potential security concernerror, it’s possible your previous one was corrupted.

6. Repair Microsoft Office

If there are corrupt or missing files on your Microsoft Office, you might encounterproblems accessing Office document cache. Repairing the app can help rebuild these files that may be exposing your system to potential security risks.

Best practices to avoid potential security concerns in Microsoft Office

A similarthis content presents a potential security issue in Excelmessage or apotential security risk may also appear on your Firefox browserso check out our articles on how to navigate this problem.

As always, we appreciate your feedback so if you have any other solution that worked for you but we’ve not mentioned it, do leave us a comment down below.

Solved: Microsoft Office Has Identified a Potential Security Concern#

How can I fix theMicrosoft Office has identified a potential security concernerror?#

1. Start Outlook in Safe Mode#

2. Disable Protected View#

3. Scan for viruses#

4. Add/change trusted location#

5. Create a new Outlook profile#

6. Repair Microsoft Office#

Best practices to avoid potential security concerns in Microsoft Office#