Android mail EAS security settings update

Question

I have a Samsung galaxy s6 running Android 7.0 with the default mail app. Just recently, the app required an update to my security settings in order to continue syncing both my corporate email (outlook 365) and my hotmail. The requirements happened about a week apart and did not coincide with either an OS update or change to our company email. The security settings are extremely intrusive (see first page of the list below) and have never been required in the past. No other phones in the company (there are about 50 Android devices both newer and older running OS versions both newer and older) have been hit with the same requirements. Is there a work around? 

Answer 1

Hi Derek-777,

Based on my experience, these notifications are simply default Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) messages. We suggest you check the question Palcouk mentioned above.

If you also can’t use some features, we suggest you try using  IMAP to access your email on your mobile device.  

Here are the IMAP setup steps:

*1.*Outlook.com: Account Type: IMAP > Incoming mail server: imap-mail.outlook.com; port: 993; SSL  > Outgoing mail server(SMTP): smtp-mail.outlook.com; port: 587; SSL/TLS> **** SMTP authentication: yes, same settings as my incoming mail server.

2. Hotmail.com: Account Type: IMAP > Incoming mail server: imap-mail.outlook.com; port: 993; SSL  > Outgoing mail server(SMTP): smtp-mail.outlook.com; port: 587; TLS > **** SMTP authentication: yes, same settings as my incoming mail server.

Letting us know how it goes at your convenience.

Thanks,

Rudy

Answer 2

Thank you for your help and sorry for the delay in response.  I was testing Outlook for Android to see if it worked as a viable solution.  Whereas it is still missing some of the features and functionality of the native Email and Calendar apps for Android, it did allow all of my accounts to work without accepting the intrusive security permissions they were requesting.  

I am still curious as to why all of a sudden Hotmail and my corporate account started asking for these permissions and that the issue appears to be localized to only my device.  It would seem that if this is a global change that all devices would be requesting the same thing.

Answer 3

Is your Hotmail/Outlook.com mail a/c still using EAS, has it not been migrated to exchange as yet?

I'm using an earlier android version and have had no such prompts, although I use both Outlook & OWA from the play store

Answer 4

Hi Derek-777,

In general, we recommend you choose ACTIVATE since it relates to your outlook account data security.

 If you don't accept the operations or choose CANCEL, which cause the problem that Outlook account can’t send or receive emails normally, we suggest you use Outlook for Android to check this kind of  issue persist or not.

Please feel free to let us know if you need further help.

Thanks,

Rudy

Answer 5

A couple other notes...

I originally figured this to be a corporate exchange server issue until hotmail started doing the same thing. Both are xxx.outlook.com managed servers.

The permissions being asked for are "administrator rights". Others on the list include the ability to turn on/off all different radios (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, internet access, etc) and delete any and all apps.

I've tried reloading both email accounts with no success.

I've also tried changing the phone unlock password (which has been active since before this issue).