SSL certificate errors on Outlook for Mac caused by Outlook bug

Outlook 2016 for Mac has a bug in it that causes Outlook to show a security error when connecting to an Exchange server even when the Exchange server and all parts are properly configured.  This post will talk about what the error looks like and how to make the error disappear.

When opening or configuring Outlook for Mac that connects to an Exchange account, users will get an error like this:

You can hit "continue" to get through the error, but to remove the error forever more . . .

Hit "Show Certificate"
Check the box for "Always trust"
Hit Continue
Enter your password at the prompt that comes up.

Moving Quick Parts from one computer to another

I have one client who loves Quick Parts (preformatted sections of text you can insert into the body of an email in Outlook).  I'm documenting how to move those Quick Parts from one computer/profile to another.

The Quick Parts are stored in Normalemail.dotm

You can simply move that single file from profile to profile or computer to computer from the standard location overwriting the default normalemail.dotm).  The default location is:
 
c:\users\%username%\appdata\roaming\microsoft\templates

Removing email proxy addresses from AD (helpful if you sync your AD to Office365)

Right now, this is a partial post while I get the PowerShell scripting components together. I needed to remove all the proxy addresses for a certain domain in advance of removing that certain domain from our Office365 account. Because we sync our local AD with Office365, I need to remove the proxy addresses from the local AD.  I could do this manually, of course - which is long and inefficient.  The crucial command I used is this one:

Set-ADUser username -Remove @{ProxyAddresses="smtp:username@domain.com"}

I ran this from "Active Directory Powershell for Windows PowerShell"

Because I'm not good enough with PowerShell yet, here's what I did.  I tried to remove the domain from the account in Office365.  Office365 returned all the mailboxes that had the domain as aliases.  I copied and pasted the list of mailboxes to Excel.  I extracted the mailbox user names from the list and made a single column in Excel of those mailbox names (in my case - our domain uses a username of joe.smith as the username for Joe Smith) so the single column included Joe.Smith.  Then I did a mail merge with that list to create a get that PowerShell command listed above to be individualized with each username.  And then I copied and pasted those commands into PowerShell.  Not ideal.  Ideally, you'd have a foreach command that would run though all AD users, but this is a story about what I did at this moment.  I'll update this post.

update rollups for Windows 7 or other OSes (convenience updates)

If (for some reason) Windows update isn't working, which oddly I've seen a couple times in the last week when I needed to update Windows 7 in advance of a Windows 10 update (the checking for updates progress bar just cycles and cycles for hours) . . .

You can install update via a "convenience" update.

As an example, here's a convenience update for convenience update for Windows 7 and Windows 2008:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3125574

Before installing the update, install the April 2015 servicing stack update from here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/3020369

Also - you may need to stop the "Windows Update" service so that the convenience update does not try to check for existing updates since the Windows Update service has already shown instability.

Group policy changes to enable ping response and remote desktop (and remote desktop firewall exception)

I recommend these changes on Windows domains to enable ping/ICMP responses from domain connected computers and remote desktop enabling (with network level authentication) and a remote desktop exception on the firewall.  Not all of these items are default on Windows 10 and/or Group Policy.  I think these are best practices so here is how you can add them to Group Policy.

Open Group Policy Management on a domain controller.  Right click on default domain policy and choose edit.

Enable ping responses via Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Administrative Templates Policy -> Network -> Network Connections -> Windows Firewall -> Domain Profile and enable Windows Firewall: Allow ICMP exceptions

Choose the option for "allow inbound echo request."

To enable a remote desktop firewall exception, in the same location, change "Windows Firewall: Allow inbound Remote Desktop exceptions"

To enable network level authentication, go to:
Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Remote Desktop Services\Remote Desktop Session Host\Connections

Enable "Allow users to connect remotely by using Remote Desktop Services"

To make all remote desktop connections use network level authentication, go to:
Computer Configuration -> Policies -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components -> Remote Desktop Services -> Remote Desktop Session Host -> Security

Enable "Require user authentication for remote connections by using network level authentication"

Upgrading to Windows 10 after 7/29/16

There is a workaround to get the Windows 10 upgrade on PCs after Microsoft's 7/29/16 deadline.  Per this article from Howtogeek.com - the upgrade is still available for users who use "assistive technologies."  There is no validation on whether or not the computer uses assistive technologies, so in effect, the upgrade is available to everyone.

For reference, the link to the Windows 10 upgrade is here:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

Best practices for safe user behavior to keep your account/computer from being compromised

I wish the internet was a safe place, but it's not.  There are people who want to compromise your accounts, computers, bank accounts, and credit cards.  In this post, I'll talk about ways to help keep you and your computer safe.

I separate risks into two categories:
1) User risks - these are things that you do over the course of regular use of your computer
2) Server side risks - these are parts of the your IT system that you have no control over

This blog will focus on user risks, the things you can control and should be conscious of when using your computer.  While TV and movies often focus on hackers compromising your company's server, the vast majority of IT security compromises come from everyday internet and email use.

I will list the items that you should think about in order of importance.  All items are important, but the items listed first will be more important.

1. Backup - every computer should have a backup system and preferably one that includes off-site storage.  This protects you from A) hardware and software failure and B) bad actors who would destroy your data or hold your data for ransom (this happens).  My strong preference is a cloud based backup system like Backblaze or Carbonite.  Of the two, my preference is Backblaze at $5 per computer per month.
2. Antivirus - all computers should have an up to date modern antivirus program (Macs included).  Windows 8 and Windows 10 come with antivirus built-in.
3. Malware protection - I believe best practice is to have a separate program for malware detection.  Antivirus, while good, does not protect against several types of Malware.  My favorite malware program is MalwareBytes at www.malwarebytes.org at a cost of $25 per year for residential users and $50 per computer per year for business users.
4. Complex passwords - all passwords should be at least eight characters with at least one letter, one number, and one special character.
5. Turn on multi factor authentication - As of 2016, many email providers offer a two factor or multi-factor authentication.  To minimize the chance of your email being compromised, you can turn on two factor or multi-factor authentication.  When turned on, your email system will send you a text message to your cell phone to verify you any time you access your email from a new computer.  Some people find this annoying, but it is a secure way to make sure your account does not get compromised.
6. Safe email behavior - Users should never open an attachment or link in an email unless they are 100% sure they are confident that the attachment or link is safe.  Your IT person can often help you figure out if a link or attachment is safe if you are not sure.
7. Avoid sending private information over standard email - Standard email traffic is not encrypted, and it is safe to assume that all the emails you send and receive can be viewed by other parties.  There are ways to send encrypted email, but encrypted email is not standard and needs to be set up by your email administrators.
8. Safe web behavior - Even innocuous Google searches can return virus laden links.  Before clicking on any link in a web browser, be sure to verify that you are visiting the site you intend.  You might think you're going to a restaurant of movie review, but you might end up in another location.  Make sure when you look at search results that the address of the page you're visiting matches the name of what you are looking for.
9. Avoid illegal software - Downloading software from questionable sites can create trouble.  Often this software is loaded with what we call "bloatware."
10. Ignore virus warnings from web browsers - For many years, unethical people have created "fake alert viruses."  In your web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Edge, Safari, etc), a window opens up telling you that you have a virus and to click on the page to remove the virus or to call a phone number.  If the warning comes a page web page, this is a false message trying to get you to take action that will infect you.
11. Ignore unsolicited phone calls - As of 2016, users sometimes get unsolicited phone calls from "Microsoft" or "Comcast" saying that your computer is infected and they want to help you.  This is a scam.  There is no such concept as a central authority somewhere keeping track of your phone number and computer status.  

If you have any questions, please contact your IT people.  They are the best resource for help staying safe.