Microsoft Word - Enabling Macro Protection
This document explains how to enable macro protection in older versions of Office so that macros do not run automatically when a document is opened. (This occurs when the lowest level of security has been selected).
Enabling Macro Protection for Word 2000 (Windows)
- Start Word.
- Click on Tools, highlight Macro and click on Security.
- Click on either Medium or High to select it.
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK again to close out of the options menu.
Enabling Macro Protection for Word 2002 (XP) or 2003 (Windows)
- Start Word.
- Click on Tools and select Options.
- Select the Security tab and click on the Macro Security button.
- Click on either Medium or High to select it.
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK again to close out of the options menu.
Enabling Macro Protection for Word 2007 or 2010 (Windows)
- Start Word.
- Click on Office Button and select Word Options.
- Select the Trust Center option and click on the Trust Center Settings... button.
- Click on either Disable All Macros With Notification or Disable All Macros With Notification to select it.
- Click on OK.
- Click on OK again to close out of the Word Options menu.
Enabling Macro Protection for Word 2004 (Macintosh)
- Start Word.
- Click on Word and select Preferences.
- Click once on the Security category listed on the left-hand side of the window to highlight it.
- Place a check in the box next to Warn before opening a file that contains macros.
Enabling Macro Protection for Word 2008 (Macintosh)
Currently, macro protection can only be configured for Excel in Office 2008.
Note: Enabling macro protection in Microsoft Word and/or Access (aka: macro virus protection) will not detect specific macro viruses for you but will inform you if a macro exists on a document you are trying to open. Macros detected by macro virus protection are not necessarily viruses. However, if you are alerted to a macro attached to a document, you should be cautious as most users do not have macros in their documents.