What are Encrypted Macros?
As per Microsoft, a macro virus is a computer virus that could be stored in macros within a Microsoft Office file (such as a document, presentation, workbook, or template) or within any ActiveX control, COM add-in, or Office add-in. Microsoft Office files with a macro kept a different file extension to indicate that they kept an embedded macro. For instance, a standard modern Word document is a “.DOCX” extension, but if a macro is added to the file, it’s saved as a “.DOCM” file. As a modern Excel workbook has a “.XLSX” extension, and a modern PowerPoint presentation has “.PPTX” extension, but if there are macros in them, the Excel file becomes a “.XLSM” file and the PowerPoint presentation becomes a “.PPTM” file.
For your security, Office doesn’t run active content automatically unless the file has been marked as a trusted document or opened from a trusted location. Though, if you are concerned about your computer’s security, you must scan encrypted macros before opening a document.
This risewindows article will guide you on forcing Microsoft Word to always scan encrypted macros before opening Windows 11 or 10.
You can enable this setting on Windows 11 or 10 using the Local Group Policy Editor or Registry Editor. Once you turn on the setting, Microsoft Word will scan for malware injected into the macros before opening the file on your PC. This way, you can protect your computer from being infected.
How to Force Microsoft Word always to Scan Encrypted Macros before opening using Group Policy Editor?
Do these steps to always scan encrypted macros before opening a Word document using Group Policy Editor:-
Step 1. Open Local Group Policy Editor.
Step 2. Browse to the following path from the left sidebar:-
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Word 2016 > Word Options > Security > Trust Center
Step 3. Double-click on the policy name “Scan encrypted macros in Word Open XML documents” on the right side of the “Trust Center” folder.
Step 4. Choose
Step 5. Select
Step 6. Click on the
Step 7. Hit
Step 8. Restart your computer.
Once you complete the above steps, Microsoft Word will scan encrypted macros before opening Windows 11 or 10.
How do you always force Microsoft Word to Scan Encrypted Macros before using Registry Editor?
Do these steps to always scan encrypted macros before opening a Word document using Registry Editor:-
Step 1. Open Registry Editor.
Step 2. Browse to the following key in the left sidebar of Registry Editor:-
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0
Step 3. Right-click on the
Step 4. Name the new key as a
Step 5. Right-click on the
Step 6. Name the new key as
Step 7. Right-click on the
Step 8. Name the newly created REG_DWORD as
Step 9. Double-click on
Step 10. Hit
Step 11. Restart your PC.
Once you complete the abovementioned steps, Microsoft Word will scan encrypted macros before opening Windows 11 or 10.
Thank you for your time.
You guys are amazing; Keep reading, learning, and growing.
