1.1.6.2 Ensure 'Synchronize Outlook RSS Feeds with Common Feed List' is set to Disabled

Information

This policy setting controls whether Outlook subscribes to the Common Feed List, which is made available to multiple RSS clients. The Common Feed List is a hierarchical set of RSS Feeds to which clients such as Outlook, the Feeds list in Internet Explorer 7, and the Feed Headlines Sidebar gadget in Windows Vista can subscribe.
If you enable this policy setting, Outlook automatically subscribes to RSS Feeds added in Internet Explorer, and Outlook RSS Feeds are synchronized with the Common Feed List so they are available in Internet Explorer. Be aware that third-party applications besides Internet Explorer can add RSS Feeds to the Common Feed List, and if you enable this setting Outlook automatically subscribes to those RSS Feeds as well.
If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Outlook maintains its own list of RSS Feeds and does not automatically subscribe to RSS Feeds that are added to the Common Feed List. The recommended state for this setting is: Disabled.

Rationale:

The Common Feed list is a hierarchical set of RSS feeds to which clients such as Outlook , the Feeds list in Internet Explorer 7, and the Feed Headlines Sidebar gadget in Windows Vista can subscribe.
If Outlook subscribes to a very large feed list, performance and availability can be affected, especially if Outlook is configured to download full RSS message bodies or if the feed list is not AutoArchived regularly.
By default, Outlook maintains its own list of feeds and does not automatically subscribe to RSS feeds that are added to the Common Feed List.

Solution

To implement the recommended configuration state, set the following Group Policy setting to Disabled.

User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Outlook 2016\Account Settings\RSS Feeds\Synchronize Outlook RSS Feeds with Common Feed List

Impact:

Disabling this setting can cause disruptions for users who are accustomed to accessing the Common Feed List in Outlook. Users will still have access to the Common Feed List through Internet Explorer 7 and other client programs. Disabling this setting does not prevent users from maintaining a separate RSS Feeds subscriptions list in Outlook.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/553

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-7

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: cbb8909a1601e29e3c01fbd9e56a1cbb98f2be315488b1253006f30a42c748f4