As part of our ongoing efforts to improve security and better protect users from phishing and malicious websites, we are implementing Microsoft Safe Links across the university.

What is Safe Links?

Microsoft Safe Links is a security feature that helps protect you from malicious or phishing websites.

When you click a link in an email, Microsoft Teams, or a supported Microsoft Office application e.g. Word, Safe Links can check the destination before allowing you to access it. This helps protect your account and device if a link leads to a website that Microsoft has identified as potentially harmful.

What happens when I click a link?

For most legitimate links, nothing will look different. The website will open as normal.

Safe Links performs a security check when you click the link. If the destination is considered safe, you will be allowed to continue.

If the link is identified as malicious, you will instead see a Microsoft Safe Links warning page.

What should I do if I see a Safe Links warning?

Do not attempt to continue to the website.

The warning means our security system has identified the destination of the link as potentially malicious.

If you believe the website is legitimate and has been incorrectly blocked, please raise a ticket using the link  and please make sure select “Safe Links” in the “Issue Relating To” field, as this will enable queries to be filtered accurately and efficiently.

The website can then be investigated before you attempt to access it again. Please note that raising a ticket does not mean access will automatically be granted. The link will be reviewed, and if it is confirmed to be suspicious or malicious, access will remain blocked.

How to open links safely

For the best protection, open links directly from the email, Teams message or Office document where you received them.

If you use Copy link, the Safe Links protected URL may still be retained and checked when opened in your browser.

However, manually highlighting and copying the visible web address can copy the original destination instead. This may not follow the same Safe Links protection path.

Where possible, click links directly from the application rather than manually copying the displayed address.

Remember

Safe Links provides an additional layer of protection, but you should still be cautious when opening links.

Be particularly careful if a message is unexpected, asks you to sign in, requests information, creates a sense of urgency, or contains unusual links or requests. Remember that messages can sometimes appear to come from someone you recognise if an email address has been spoofed or their account has been compromised. If anything seems unusual, verify the request using a trusted method before taking action.

If you're unsure about a link, don't click it. Contact the DS&S for guidance.