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Virus affecting Outlook contacts

Tags: Malware

All of my Outlook Contacts (1,000+ of them) have had the following text added to either the email address or telephone number:

X-EVOLUTION-FILE-AS:

Sometimes it has been added to the Company name or Job Title.

It means I can’t tell who’s calling, and I’m constantly editing email addresses to be able to send anything.

Several virus scans have been done and no joy…. Has anyone else had this and how did you fix it?

Cheers,
N

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Reply To: Virus affecting Outlook contacts

In reply to Virus affecting Outlook contacts

I doubt if it’s a virus. It seems to be related to a Linux/Unix mail program called “evolution” described in https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/evolution/-/wikis/home

I’m afraid that all you can do is to remove the text from your contacts, either via the screen, or via a program you write, if you can’t restore a clean version from your backup.

virus affacting outlook contacts

In reply to Virus affecting Outlook contacts

It sounds like your Outlook contacts have been affected by a malware or bug that’s adding unwanted text. Here are a few steps to help you fix it:

Backup Contacts: Before making any changes, backup your contacts.
Check for Add-ins: Disable any suspicious or unnecessary add-ins in Outlook.
Update Outlook: Ensure you are using the latest version of Outlook.
Repair Outlook: Use the built-in repair tool to fix any issues with your Outlook data file.
Manual Cleanup: Unfortunately, you might need to manually edit affected contacts if an automated solution doesn’t work.
If these steps don’t resolve the issue, consider seeking professional IT support. Good luck!

Fixing Outlook Contacts Issue: How to Remove Unwanted Text

In reply to Virus affecting Outlook contacts

Hey Niall,

That sounds like a real headache! The text popping up in your contacts doesn’t exactly scream “virus,” but it does seem like it might be linked to a mail program from the Linux/Unix world, specifically something called “Evolution.”

Here’s what I’d suggest:

Backup First: Always start by backing up your contacts, just in case things get messier.
Check for Suspicious Add-ins: Go through your Outlook add-ins and disable anything that looks unnecessary or out of place.
Update and Repair: Make sure Outlook is up to date, and try running the repair tool to see if it can clean things up.
Manual Cleanup: Unfortunately, you might be stuck manually removing that pesky text if automated solutions don’t work.
If these steps don’t clear it up, it might be worth reaching out to a pro for a deeper dive. Hope you get it sorted!

[Author]

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