You may have seen a warning message on LinkedIn stating “This message may contain unwanted or harmful content.” This message is designed to protect LinkedIn members from potential spam, phishing attempts, malware, and other security threats. In this article, we’ll explore what triggers this message, what it means, and what you can do about it.
What Triggers the “Unwanted or Harmful Content” Warning
There are a few different things that can cause LinkedIn to flag a message as potentially harmful:
- The message contains links to external websites that LinkedIn’s automated filters have identified as suspicious or known to distribute malware or phishing attempts.
- The message contains attachments, especially executable files like .exe, that could contain viruses or malware.
- The message content matches patterns or keywords that LinkedIn’s filters recognize as associated with spam or phishing campaigns.
- The message comes from an account that has been flagged for suspicious activity or is not fully verified.
- The message is sent to a large number of recipients at once, resembling a spam blast.
- The message contains phone numbers, email addresses, or requests for personal information that could be used for phishing.
Essentially, if LinkedIn’s automated filters detect any unusual activity or potential red flags, the message will be flagged as potentially harmful as a precaution.
What Does the Warning Message Mean?
The “unwanted or harmful content” warning is LinkedIn’s way of cautioning users that a message may pose a security risk. Here’s what it does NOT necessarily mean:
- The message is definitely dangerous or malicious – it’s just flagged for closer inspection.
- The sender is intentionally sending harmful content or spam – their account may be compromised.
- The recipient did anything wrong by receiving the message.
Rather, the warning means LinkedIn’s filters detected something suspicious, but cannot definitively determine if the content is malicious. The message is blocked temporarily while LinkedIn analyzes it further. Think of it as LinkedIn exercising extra caution to protect its users.
What Happens When You Get the Warning Message?
If you try to view a flagged message in your LinkedIn inbox, you’ll see the warning but won’t be able to access the actual message content. Similarly, if you try to send a message that gets flagged, the recipients will see the warning and be unable to view your message.
In most cases, LinkedIn will review the flagged message and if it’s determined to be safe, the warning will be removed and the message delivered as normal. This review process may take a few hours up to a couple days in some cases.
How to Handle Potentially Harmful LinkedIn Messages
Here are some tips on what to do if you receive the “unwanted or harmful content” warning message:
- Don’t try to bypass the warning and access the message – this could expose you to risks if it is truly malicious.
- Notify the sender (if known) so they’re aware their account may be compromised.
- Report the message to LinkedIn so they can investigate further.
- Delete the message from your inbox to remove the risk entirely.
- Beware of unknown contacts sending unsolicited messages, especially with links or attachments.
- Never open attachments or click links in suspicious messages.
With patience, most legitimate messages will become accessible within a couple days once LinkedIn clears them. But if in doubt, it’s safest to delete the message and move on.
How to Avoid Triggering the Harmful Content Warning
As a sender, there are steps you can take to prevent your LinkedIn messages from being flagged:
- Avoid sending content from external websites, especially in large quantities.
- Never include executable attachments (.exe, .msi, etc.) that could appear suspicious.
- Avoid spammy language, repeated characters (e.g. “Freeeeeee”), or excessive punctuation.
- Don’t mass message people who aren’t connections – build relationships first.
- Consider removing links and attachments entirely and sharing them upon request instead.
- Ensure your account has accurate information and is fully verified.
- If your account was compromised, reset your password immediately.
While there’s no 100% guarantee, following these tips will significantly reduce the likelihood of having your messages flagged. The key is avoiding any behavior that could appear questionable to LinkedIn’s filters.
Troubleshooting Blocked Messages on LinkedIn
If your legitimate messages keep getting blocked by LinkedIn’s harmful content warning, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Review your messages to remove any potential red flags like links or attachments.
- Try rewording the message content using synonyms for any suspicious phrases.
- Break long messages into shorter parts to appear less spam-like.
- Change the sender account to an alternate verified LinkedIn profile you control.
- Contact LinkedIn customer support for assistance investigating why your messages are being flagged.
With some trial and error, you can often determine what specific content or account factors are triggering the warnings and make adjustments to avoid them. If the issues persist, LinkedIn support can provide personalized guidance on how to resolve the problem.
LinkedIn Message Warning Scams
Although most LinkedIn warnings about harmful content are legitimate, scammers have also been known to send fake notifications in an attempt to get people to provide sensitive information or spread malware. Here are some ways to identify scam warnings:
- They often include alarming language like your account is “compromised” or “in violation.”
- They may ask you to click on a link or download a file to “secure your account.”
- The message isn’t viewable in your LinkedIn inbox (only the scam notification appears).
- The sender is not someone you know or doesn’t have a verified account.
- There are typos, grammatical errors, or other unprofessional language.
As a rule of thumb, do NOT click on any links, reply with personal information, or download files that could contain malware. Report the message to LinkedIn and delete it immediately.
Conclusion
LinkedIn’s “unwanted or harmful content” warnings aim to protect users, but can sometimes cause confusion or block legitimate messages by mistake. If you see the warning appear, proceed with caution, report it if necessary, but don’t simply click through to view the blocked content.
As a sender, avoiding spammy behavior and removing unnecessary links/attachments can prevent your messages from being flagged. Overall, the warnings are a helpful security measure, as long as users understand their purpose and exercise sound judgment.