Microsoft KB Archive/233396

= How to reduce the chances of macro virus infection in Word =

Article ID: 233396

Article Last Modified on 9/27/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Office Word 2003
 * Microsoft Word 2002 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Word 2000 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q233396



SUMMARY
This article describes ways you can reduce the risk of infecting Microsoft Word and your documents and templates with macro viruses.



MORE INFORMATION
It is recommended that you use one or more of the following methods to help reduce the possibility of macro virus infection.

Note No one method of protection is a total guarantee that your installation of Microsoft Word will not be affected by a macro virus.

Method 1: Install and update antivirus software
For a long-term solution to macro viruses, install antivirus software that is specifically designed to detect macro viruses.

Note After you install an antivirus software program, you must keep it updated to ensure that new macro viruses are detected and removed. For more information about updating your antivirus software program, please contact your antivirus software vendor.

For information about how to contact your antivirus software vendor, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

65416 Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

60781 Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

60782 Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z

Method 2: Set a security level in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word offers the following levels of security to reduce the chances that a macro virus will infect your documents, templates, or add-ins.

Follow these steps in Microsoft Word to change the security level:
 * 1) On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Security.
 * 2) On the Security Level tab, select the security level that you want, and then click OK.

Method 3: Lock the global template (Normal.dot)
Follow these steps to lock your global template (Normal.dot) with a password to reduce the possibility of unauthorized access by a macro virus:  On the Tools menu, point to Macro, and then click Visual Basic Editor. In the Visual Basic Editor, click to select This Document in the Project window.

Note If the Project window does not appear, click Project Explorer on the View menu. On the Tools menu, click Project Properties. On the Protection tab, click to select the Lock project for viewing check box. Type a password in the Password box. Type the same password in the Confirm password box. Click OK.</li> On the File menu, click Close and return to Microsoft Word.</li> In Microsoft Word, hold SHIFT and click Save All on the File menu.</li> If the following message appears, click Yes.

Changes have been made that affect the global template, Normal.dot. Do you want to save those changes?

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