Tag Archives: Sender Policy Framework

Cannot open MS Word attachment from Outlook “Word experienced an error trying to open the file”

This is a new one for me, and I believe it may have popped up after the recent Windows Update:

9-10-2013 3-01-48 PM

“Word experienced an error trying to open the file”.

Now if I SAVE that same file out of outlook (or copy and paste it to a drive), and then open from there – it opens fine.

Here is the solution:

  • Open Word 2010, 2013 or 2016
  • Go to File | Options | Trust Center | Trust Center Settings | Protected View
  • Un-check  the “Enable Protected View for Outlook Attachments” checkbox

9-10-2013 3-06-21 PM

Click ok/save that setting.

Go back to outlook and your word document should now open fine.

 

UPDATE 6/20/16:

I have double checked this and it does work fine for Word 2016 as well.

Using SPF on your domains…

It’s a good idea if you have a domain – and you have access to your DNS server, that you setup and use (properly) SPF records.  SPF = Sender Policy Framework.  This is an an e-mail validation system designed to prevent e-mail spam by addressing a common vulnerability, source address spoofing.  Here at Amixa, we use SPF records on all of our domains that send email, just to add another layer of anti-spam protection for our clients.

In recent weeks we’ve noticed a sharp increase in spoofed “from” email addresses attached to bulk email sent by spammers.  The “Amixa Sales” email address has been spoofed by some senders and any receipient’s ISP that uses SPF lookups, are properly rejecting the spam messages because the email messages do not originate from our email server.  I am sure other people are getting spam emails using our forged email address, but that is just the way things happen on the internet.  Some people are good, and others aren’t!

For more reading, learn about SPF here

To check your SPF records after you have them in place, click here