Article ID: 154131
Article Last Modified on 1/9/2007
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 95 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 5.0 Standard Edition
- Microsoft Excel 98 for Macintosh
This article was previously published under Q154131
SUMMARY
In July 1996, Microsoft learned of a nondestructive macro virus that affects Microsoft Excel. The following information is taken from the online Question and Answer document about the Microsoft Excel macro virus.
NOTE: To protect yourself, obtain the Microsoft Excel Virus Search Version 2.0 add-in. For more information, please see the following Microsoft World Wide Web site:
MORE INFORMATION
Q: What are macro viruses? A: Macro viruses are a type of virus that use a program's own macro programming language to distribute themselves. Unlike previous viruses, macro viruses do not infect programs; they infect documents. Q: What is Sofa? A: This is a nonharmful, nondestructive macro virus that does not affect data in any way. Infected files display the application header "Microsofa Excel" instead of "Microsoft Excel." Q: What is ExcelMacro/Laroux? A: This is a nonharmful, nondestructive concept virus. It simply appends a macro sheet called "laroux" to workbooks. It does not affect data or anything else in the workbook. This is the first replicating macro virus ever discovered in Microsoft Excel. Q: What is Laroux B? A: Laroux B is a variation of the original virus that is the same in all respects, but can overwrite existing macros on the user's Personal.xls macro sheet.
REFERENCES
"ExcelMacro/Laroux Customer Q&A" document from Microsoft Excel Marketing.
Additional query words: 5.00a 5.00c 7.00a xl97 XL
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