Microsoft will change how Office handles Trusted Documents to improve security

Microsoft is working to secure how Office handles Trusted Documents. These types of documents contain controls that tin can run without user interaction, including ActiveX controls, Dynamic data Exchange functions, and macros. These files are oftentimes used for innocent purposes but can be used as part of attacks past threat actors.

At the moment, Trusted Documents tin can override Protected View safeguards, but that won't exist the example in the future.

"We are changing the behavior of Office applications to enforce policies that block Agile Content (ex. macros, ActiveX, DDE) on Trusted Documents," reads the Microsoft 365 roadmap. "Previously, Active Content was immune to run in Trusted Documents even when an IT ambassador had set a policy to cake information technology. As role of ongoing Function security hardening, the IT administrator'due south pick to block Active Content volition now always have precedence over end-user set trusted documents."

Security risks stalk from the fact that Trusted Documents can bypass policies set by It administrators. Following the outlined change, Trusted Documents will follow set IT admin policies. This is a logical change equally it moves decisions related to security to IT admins rather than end-users.

Attacks utilizing documents to fool people are cypher new. A recently discovered malware campaign used a Word document that tried to trick people into activating malicious lawmaking. The assault utilized a document that falsely claimed to be fabricated with "Windows 11 Alpha." People could exist fooled into thinking that they had to follow prompts from the document to make it piece of work on their PC.

The roadmap states that the feature is in evolution and that it could arrive in October 2022, just dates on the Microsoft 365 roadmap are e'er subject area to modify.

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