Proofpoint – Email Warning Tags
The “Email Warning Tags” feature adds an informative header to incoming emails, visually warning recipients that a message may be more dangerous than typical internal communications. These visual cues encourage caution and verification before interacting with the content.
Appearance
Example:
This tag informs the recipient that the message was sent from outside PCC. We are using Google’s external tag for this feature.
Other Examples:
Unknown Sender
This tag informs the recipient that the message was sent from a sender with whom the recipient has not previously corresponded.
FAQs
Why are the Email Warning Tags in place?
These warnings are added to emails coming from outside of Portland Community College and have become a security best practice and are in place at many organizations. We continue to have Portland Community College users be the victims of phishing and other scams from outside entities, which provides a warning to look carefully before clicking or responding.
Email is one of the most common methods for infiltrating an organization’s cyber infrastructure. These tags serve as visual cues to prompt caution and verification before interacting with content received from external services.
Is it possible to exclude my personal contacts from the Email Warning Tags?
No, the Email Warning Tags are global and cannot be individually managed.
Is it possible to exclude a Portland Community College partner from the Email Warning Tags?
Yes, for approved vendors, it is possible to exclude their messages from the Email Warning Tags except for the External Sender tag. Please submit a ticket by clicking on “IT Service Desk“. Please include the full email address and an example email message in the request.
What happens when I reply-to or forward a message that has an Email Warning Tag?
The Email Warning Tag will be removed from your message when you reply to or forward a tagged message to an external recipient.
Note: The Email Warning Tag is removed when a message reply or forward is sent to an external email address. If the message is forwarded to another internal email address, such as another PCC user, the tag is not removed.
Here is an example:
This is a message sent from an email address outside of Portland Community College to a staff account. It was tagged, as expected.
When the recipient replies to the original message, the recipient of that reply will not see the email warning tag.
What if a tagged message was not expected?
If you receive an email that you suspect may be a phishing message, please refer to How do I report a phishing message to report the suspected phishing.
Benefits
- Visual cues encourage caution and verification before interacting with the content of potentially dangerous emails
Service availability
24/7