External Email Tags and Alerts

Issue/Question

How can I identify external emails in Outlook?
Why do emails show [External] in the subject line?
What does the external email alert mean when sending emails?

Environment

• Duquesne University email system

Resolution

1. When you receive an email from a non-@duq.edu address (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo), the email subject will be prefixed with [External].
2. This tag helps identify emails from unknown senders and alerts you to exercise caution when clicking links or opening attachments.
3. The [External] tag will be visible in:
   1. Outlook Web App (OWA)
   2. Microsoft Outlook 2010 or newer on Windows
   3. Outlook mobile apps for iOS/Android
4. When composing an email to a recipient outside Duquesne University, an alert will notify you that the email is going to an external address.
5. The [External] tag remains in the subject line even if the email is forwarded.
6. While most external emails will display this tag, some may not. Always proceed with caution when handling unexpected messages from unfamiliar sources.

Summary

Duquesne University's CTS marks incoming emails from outside the @duq.edu domain with an [External] tag in the subject line and displays alerts when sending to external recipients. These tags are a security measure to help users recognize potential phishing attempts and handle external messages cautiously.