Secure U of T advanced threat protections: Overview


Introduction

Secure U of T advanced threat protections use cloud-based Microsoft threat detection software to help protect the University community against unknown malware and viruses. These security features provide an added layer of protection to identified users' Microsoft 365 (M365) accounts and safeguard them against malicious threats posed by attachments, links (URLs) in email messages and unfamiliar documents. 

The following Secure U of T advanced threat protection security features are currently in use at the University: 

Safe Links

Learn more about Safe Links.

Safe Attachments

Learn more about Safe Attachments.

Safe Documents

Learn more about Safe Documents.

Anti-Phishing Protection

Learn more about anti-phishing protection.


Frequently asked questions

Is there a difference between Safe Links (Documents), Safe Attachments and Safe Documents? 

Yes, Safe Links (Documents), Safe Attachments and Safe Documents are three different advanced threat protection features: 

  • Safe Links (Documents) monitors links within M365 documents to make sure the websites linked to are safe to view. 
  • Safe Attachments scans email attachments for malicious content or actions. 
  • Safe Documents opens untrusted Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents in Protected View until it can scan the document to verify it is not malicious. 

If I get a malicious email, document or attachment, who should I report it to?

If you get a malicious email, document or attachment, we ask that you report it to Information Security by forwarding the email to report.phishing@utoronto.ca.

What should I do if Microsoft marks a legitimate URL, email attachment or document as malicious?

If you are blocked from accessing a URL, attachment or document that you believe to be safe, please submit a ticket to the Enterprise Service Center at uoft.me/m365help. Our Microsoft 365 team can mark the URL, attachment or document so that it is no longer identified as malicious. 

Does Microsoft read my files, documents and/or emails?

Microsoft uses machine learning to scan your files, documents and/or emails for malicious content, but no person will ever view them. The links and attachments within your emails/documents are only checked by Safe Links at the time you open them.  

Can I use these features with any email client? 

Yes, you can use Secure U of T advanced threat protection features with any email client. For best results, we recommend using Outlook Online (OWA) or the Outlook desktop client.  

Will these features disrupt my workflow?

Most users find these security features integrate into their workflow seamlessly. You will only be alerted to them if a malicious email, attachment or document is detected. 

How can I convert a Safe Links URL back to a regular URL?

You can convert Safe Links URLs back to regular URLs using this tool: https://o365atp.com/. Simply paste the Safe Links URL into the first box. The converted URL will automatically appear in the second box.