G
Guest
what does macros have been disabled mean?
R
Ronnie Vernon MVP
It means that Macros have been disabled. 
You might want to expand your message a bit to include what program you are seeing this message in, what you are doing when the message appears, and any other information that might be helpful.
You might want to expand your message a bit to include what program you are seeing this message in, what you are doing when the message appears, and any other information that might be helpful.
G
Guest
First of all, a macro is a recording of a series of actions, like mouse
clicks, typing, etc.
Hackers have figured out a way to use this process automation to create a
"macro virus" and therefore comprimise your system. The term "macros have
been disabled" just means that you have a macro security level that has
actually disabled macros from running on your system.
Here's what the Office Help file has to say:
The following information summarizes how macro (macro: An action or a set of
actions you can use to automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual
Basic for Applications programming language.) virus protection works under
each setting on the Security Level tab in the Security dialog box (Tools
menu, Macro submenu) under different conditions. Under all settings, if
antivirus software that works with Microsoft Office 2003 is installed and the
file contains macros, the file is scanned for known viruses (virus: A
computer program or macro that "infects" computer files by inserting copies
of itself into those files. When the infected file is loaded into memory, the
virus can infect other files. Viruses often have harmful side effects.)
before it is opened.
Security Because macros can contain viruses, be careful about running them.
Take the following precautions: run up-to-date antivirus software on your
computer; set your macro security level to high; clear the Trust all
installed add-ins and templates check box; use digital signatures; maintain a
list of trusted publishers.
Very High
Only macros installed in trusted locations will be allowed to run. All other
signed and unsigned macros are disabled. You can disable all macros entirely
by setting your security level to Very High and disabling macros installed in
trusted locations. To disable macros installed in trusted locations, click
Tools, then select Macro and Security, and then click on the Trusted
Publisher tab and “uncheck†the Trust all installed add-ins and templates
option.
Note This also disables all Com Add-ins and Smart Tag .DLLs as well as
macros.
High
Unsigned macros
Macros are automatically disabled, and the file is opened.
Signed macros
The source of the macro and the status of the signature (digital signature:
An electronic, encryption-based, secure stamp of authentication on a macro or
document. This signature confirms that the macro or document originated from
the signer and has not been altered.) determine how signed macros are handled.
A trusted source. Signature is valid.
Macros are automatically enabled, and the file is opened.
An unknown author. Signature is valid.
A dialog box is displayed with information about the certificate (digital
certificate: Attachment for a file, macro project, or e-mail message that
vouches for authenticity, provides secure encryption, or supplies a
verifiable signature. To digitally sign macro projects, you must install a
digital certification.). Macros can be enabled only if the user chooses to
trust the author and certification authority. A network administrator can
lock the list of trusted sources and prevent the user from adding the
developer to the list and enabling the macros.
Any author. Signature is invalid, possibly because of a virus.
User is warned of a possible virus. Macros are automatically disabled.
Any author. Signature validation is not possible because public key is
missing or incompatible encryption methods were used.
User is warned that signature validation is not possible. Macros are
automatically disabled.
Any author. The signature was made after the certificate had expired or had
been revoked.
User is warned that the signature has expired or been revoked. Macros are
automatically disabled.
Medium
Unsigned macros
User is prompted to enable or disable macros.
Signed macros
The source of the macro and the status of the signature (digital signature:
An electronic, encryption-based, secure stamp of authentication on a macro or
document. This signature confirms that the macro or document originated from
the signer and has not been altered.) determine how signed macros are handled.
A trusted source. Signature is valid.
Macros are automatically enabled, and the file is opened.
An unknown author. Signature is valid.
A dialog box is displayed with information about the certificate. The user
is prompted to enable or disable macros. The user can choose to trust the
developer and certification authority.
Any author. Signature is invalid, possibly because of a virus.
User is warned of a possible virus. Macros are automatically disabled.
Any author. Signature validation is not possible because public key is
missing or incompatible encryption methods were used.
User is warned that signature validation is not possible. User is prompted
to enable or disable macros.
Any author. The signature was made after the certificate had expired or had
been revoked.
User is warned that the signature has expired or been revoked. User is
prompted to enable or disable macros.
Low
When security it set to low, all macros are treated equally regardless of
origin or certificate status. With low security, you receive no prompt or
signature validation and macros are automatically enabled. Use this setting
only if you are certain that all macros in your files are from trusted
sources.
Note In Microsoft Office 2003 or later, a component checks all XML files
that have references to XSL files for script that could be unsafe. If macro
security is set to High, running this script is disabled. If macro security
is set to Medium, the user is asked whether or not to run script in XSL
files. If macro security is set to Low, the script is run.
I hope that helps...
Vancouver
clicks, typing, etc.
Hackers have figured out a way to use this process automation to create a
"macro virus" and therefore comprimise your system. The term "macros have
been disabled" just means that you have a macro security level that has
actually disabled macros from running on your system.
Here's what the Office Help file has to say:
The following information summarizes how macro (macro: An action or a set of
actions you can use to automate tasks. Macros are recorded in the Visual
Basic for Applications programming language.) virus protection works under
each setting on the Security Level tab in the Security dialog box (Tools
menu, Macro submenu) under different conditions. Under all settings, if
antivirus software that works with Microsoft Office 2003 is installed and the
file contains macros, the file is scanned for known viruses (virus: A
computer program or macro that "infects" computer files by inserting copies
of itself into those files. When the infected file is loaded into memory, the
virus can infect other files. Viruses often have harmful side effects.)
before it is opened.
Security Because macros can contain viruses, be careful about running them.
Take the following precautions: run up-to-date antivirus software on your
computer; set your macro security level to high; clear the Trust all
installed add-ins and templates check box; use digital signatures; maintain a
list of trusted publishers.
Very High
Only macros installed in trusted locations will be allowed to run. All other
signed and unsigned macros are disabled. You can disable all macros entirely
by setting your security level to Very High and disabling macros installed in
trusted locations. To disable macros installed in trusted locations, click
Tools, then select Macro and Security, and then click on the Trusted
Publisher tab and “uncheck†the Trust all installed add-ins and templates
option.
Note This also disables all Com Add-ins and Smart Tag .DLLs as well as
macros.
High
Unsigned macros
Macros are automatically disabled, and the file is opened.
Signed macros
The source of the macro and the status of the signature (digital signature:
An electronic, encryption-based, secure stamp of authentication on a macro or
document. This signature confirms that the macro or document originated from
the signer and has not been altered.) determine how signed macros are handled.
A trusted source. Signature is valid.
Macros are automatically enabled, and the file is opened.
An unknown author. Signature is valid.
A dialog box is displayed with information about the certificate (digital
certificate: Attachment for a file, macro project, or e-mail message that
vouches for authenticity, provides secure encryption, or supplies a
verifiable signature. To digitally sign macro projects, you must install a
digital certification.). Macros can be enabled only if the user chooses to
trust the author and certification authority. A network administrator can
lock the list of trusted sources and prevent the user from adding the
developer to the list and enabling the macros.
Any author. Signature is invalid, possibly because of a virus.
User is warned of a possible virus. Macros are automatically disabled.
Any author. Signature validation is not possible because public key is
missing or incompatible encryption methods were used.
User is warned that signature validation is not possible. Macros are
automatically disabled.
Any author. The signature was made after the certificate had expired or had
been revoked.
User is warned that the signature has expired or been revoked. Macros are
automatically disabled.
Medium
Unsigned macros
User is prompted to enable or disable macros.
Signed macros
The source of the macro and the status of the signature (digital signature:
An electronic, encryption-based, secure stamp of authentication on a macro or
document. This signature confirms that the macro or document originated from
the signer and has not been altered.) determine how signed macros are handled.
A trusted source. Signature is valid.
Macros are automatically enabled, and the file is opened.
An unknown author. Signature is valid.
A dialog box is displayed with information about the certificate. The user
is prompted to enable or disable macros. The user can choose to trust the
developer and certification authority.
Any author. Signature is invalid, possibly because of a virus.
User is warned of a possible virus. Macros are automatically disabled.
Any author. Signature validation is not possible because public key is
missing or incompatible encryption methods were used.
User is warned that signature validation is not possible. User is prompted
to enable or disable macros.
Any author. The signature was made after the certificate had expired or had
been revoked.
User is warned that the signature has expired or been revoked. User is
prompted to enable or disable macros.
Low
When security it set to low, all macros are treated equally regardless of
origin or certificate status. With low security, you receive no prompt or
signature validation and macros are automatically enabled. Use this setting
only if you are certain that all macros in your files are from trusted
sources.
Note In Microsoft Office 2003 or later, a component checks all XML files
that have references to XSL files for script that could be unsafe. If macro
security is set to High, running this script is disabled. If macro security
is set to Medium, the user is asked whether or not to run script in XSL
files. If macro security is set to Low, the script is run.
I hope that helps...
Vancouver