Trojan problems in Word docs ?

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Gettting paranoid but do i need to be concerned with macro / trojan problems
in Word docs ?

I use nav 2003 but wondering do i need to take any extra steps ?

any input appreciated

thanks
 
A few simple rules will help.

Set your macro security to medium so you will always get a warning if a
document contains macros.

Never open unsolicited Word documents (or any other attachments)

Never open Word documents (or other attachments) directly from your e-mail
application - save to the hard drive first.

If after doing that you open a document that contains macros and you are not
sure of its pedigree, disable the macros.

You will get far more problems with Trojans from accessing web pages of
dubious merit. In particular there is a nasty scam going around that will
cost you a fortune in telephone calls if you inadvertently sign up to it.
This is downloaded from a web page when you agree to a request, when that
seems the only way to get away from that request. Such things are usually
confined to porn and warez sites, so they should not affect you? If you get
into one of those interminable loops press CTRL+ALT+DEL and stop Explorer
from there. Worst case scenario - turn off the PC. If you are formatted NTFS
Windows will dust itself off and start again without problem. Never agree to
the download.

Download the startup monitor - http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml.
This will not allow any software to run without your knowledge from a
startup option. It is the most useful safety utility I have ever seen.

Run behind a firewall whenever you are on line - especially on broadband. A
hardware firewall is best, but even Windows XP's firewall is reasonably
effective.

Keep Norton AV updated - at least weekly, preferably daily. Disable its
problematical Office plug-in (without impairing security).

Run AdAware and/or SpyBot once a week or whenever you are concerned
something may have slipped through.

Use Mailwasher (or similar) to keep spam away - so that you never download
anything you are uncertain of to your machine.

Set Outlook's registry to always display plain text -
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Options\Mail -
ReadAsPlain = 1

Be vigilant.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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good stuff - thanks

"problematical Office plug-in " - didnt know there were any problems ?

i like the macro security idea - i'll have a look at the word options
 
A high setting stops all macros whereas a medium setting gives you the
option.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>>< ><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

Web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site www.mvps.org/word
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