Warning about the free version of Outlook

20.12.2023

The ZID strongly advises against using the free new Outlook for e-mail addresses of the University of Vienna.

Microsoft recently introduced a free version of the Outlook e-mail program, which is advertised as Outlook NewOutlook neuNew Outlook or Das neue Outlook. It is available as a free download, but is also gradually being rolled out automatically as part of theWindows 10 and Windows 11 operating system so that users can find it in the Windows Start menu. Users may also be offered to switch from their existing Outlook account to the new Outlook by clicking on a slider. 

The ZID strongly advises against using the free new Outlook for e-mail addresses of the University of Vienna. If you have already entered your login data (e-mail address, u:account UserID and/or u:account password) in the new Outlook version, please change your u:account password immediately.

According to consistent reports in the trade press, the program transmits the login data for e-mail accounts and stores e-mails to servers in the Microsoft infrastructure. This poses a security risk and also contradicts the ZID's guidelines for handling passwords. The Terms of Use Passwords state: “Services operated by other university institutions or external service providers may not query or process ZID passwords.”

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