Using Outlook Rules to Find Viruses

Today, Outlook provides more than just the sending and receiving of emails. It has a variety of tools that make managing emails easier. For example, there are Rules, Add-ons, and Templates. Unfortunately, there are people out there who use these great tools to worm their way in and steal your data.

Microsoft Outlook has a great system that looks for spam emails, but if you are still being bombarded by unwanted ads or your computer is acting slower than usual, it might be a good idea to check your Outlook Rules.

The following instructions will provide a step by step guidance on how to check Rules for lingering viruses.

How to check for viruses on Outlook Web

1. Log in to your Outlook Email at a the browser.

2. Click Settings in the top right corner.

3. Click View all Outlook settings.

4. Click Rules.

5. If you haven't created any Rules, your page should look like this:

6. If there are Rules, and you didn't create them, remove them immediately. Unless it is a Microsoft preset, it is a virus.

The example below is a hacker trying to get your information. Delete immediately.

7. To delete Rules, click the Trash Can or Delete button to the right of the Rule.

7. Click OK.

8. You're all done! Finding and deleting Rules that don't belong there will help you be virus free.

How to check for viruses on Outlook Desktop

1. Open Outlook on your desktop.

2. Click File in the top left corner.

3. Click Rules and Alerts.

4. If you have never created Rules, then your screen should look like this:

5. If there are Rules in this box that you did not create and they are not presets created by Outlook, they are most likely viruses. Delete immediately.

Here is an example of a suspicious Rule:

6. Select the Rule you want to delete. Don't click the check mark. The check mark turns the Rule on and off. Simply click the Rule directly.

Click Delete.

7. Click Yes.

8. You're all done! Finding and deleting Rules that don't belong there will help you be virus free.