Why can't I open links in emails?

Why can't I open links in emails?

If a link in an email does not work, there can be several reasons. eclipso Mail Europe protects you from dangerous content by blocking external resources in HTML emails initially and by checking or redirecting links through a secure intermediate page. A link that does not work does not automatically mean that your mailbox or browser is faulty.
 

What could be causing the problem?

• The link cannot be clicked: The email may contain only a written web address instead of a real link.
• The link opens an empty or unchanged page: The link may have expired, been created incorrectly, or the destination server may be unavailable.
• A security or intermediate page appears: External links are opened through eclipso link checking. Check the displayed destination before continuing.
• Images or other content are missing: External images, backgrounds and external CSS content are initially blocked in HTML emails. This is separate from whether a text link works.
• The link was removed: Unsupported link types and unsafe HTML elements may be removed while the email is being prepared for display.

 

How to check a link that does not work

1. Open the email in full view and check whether the link is clickable there.
2. Hover over the link and compare the destination with the expected provider. Look for typing errors and unusual domain names.
3. If a security prompt or intermediate page appears, read the complete destination address. Continue only if you trust the sender and destination.
4. If only images or the layout are missing, use the option in the email to display external content. This loads external images and other external presentation elements for the current view.
5. If necessary, test the link in a current browser. Copy the address manually only after checking the destination.

 

Why are external contents blocked initially?

External images and other resources can transmit information when an email is opened, such as your IP address, the time of access or the fact that the message was opened. External content can also be used for deception or to load unwanted content. eclipso therefore does not load it automatically.

Text links are handled separately: supported links using http, https or ftp are opened through eclipso link checking. Email addresses using mailto: are transferred to the eclipso compose dialog. Link checking cannot protect you if a trusted website itself has been compromised, so always verify the destination and enter sensitive data only on the expected website.
 

What can I do if the link still does not work?

• Check that the email has loaded completely and that you are using full view.
• Try again later if the destination server may be temporarily unavailable.
• Check whether the link is valid only for a particular recipient, session or limited period.
• Do not use links in suspicious messages and do not enter passwords, payment details or security codes there.
• For an expected message, contact the sender through a known contact method and ask for a new or complete URL.

 

When should I contact the sender?

Contact the sender if the link is also unreachable in a current browser, the destination is visibly incorrect, a download is missing, or the link was valid only once or for a limited time. Include the subject and approximate sending time. Send the complete URL only to a trusted contact and remove personal access data if necessary.

Security tip: If an unexpected email urges you to click immediately or enter a password, payment details or a security code, stop. Open the website through a saved bookmark or type the known address into the browser instead.