If you've noticed a sudden drop in your inbox activity or important work emails vanishing into thin air, you aren't alone. Microsoft is currently scrambling to fix a major Exchange Online glitch.
Since February 5, 2026, a persistent bug in Microsoft Exchange Online has been incorrectly flagging legitimate, safe emails as "phishing" attempts. Instead of reaching the intended recipients, these messages are being intercepted and thrown into quarantine, causing a massive headache for businesses worldwide.
What Triggered the Chaos?
According to Microsoft’s service alerts, the culprit is a newly updated URL rule. In an attempt to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated hackers, Microsoft tweaked its detection criteria. Unfortunately, the system became "too aggressive," marking safe URLs as malicious.
Essentially, the machine learning models meant to protect us have started seeing ghosts, treating standard business links as dangerous phishing traps. This has resulted in thousands of missed meetings, delayed reports, and frustrated IT departments.
Status Update: Microsoft is currently reviewing the release of quarantined messages and unblocking legitimate URLs.
A Recurring Pattern?
While this incident is severe, it’s not the first time Microsoft's anti-spam systems have gone rogue. Over the past few years, we've seen similar hiccups:
- 🔹 March 2025: A similar bug mistakenly quarantined thousands of corporate emails.
- 🔹 September 2025: Users were blocked from opening URLs in both Exchange and Microsoft Teams.
- 🔹 May 2025: Gmail accounts were incorrectly flagged as spam.
What Should You Do Now?
If you suspect you're affected, Microsoft suggests checking your Security & Compliance Center. Some users are already seeing previously flagged emails trickle back into their inboxes as the remediation process begins. However, there is no official "Estimated Time of Resolution" (ETR) just yet.
Has your business been hit by this Exchange Online bug? Let us know your experience in the comments below. For more real-time tech updates, follow Technologia4Life.
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