Macro security is a key feature in Excel. The reason is that VBA is a powerful language — so powerful that it’s possible to create a macro that can do serious damage to your computer. A macro can delete files, send information to other computers, and even destroy Windows so that you can’t even start your system.

The macro security features introduced in Excel 2007 were created to help prevent these types of problems.

Click the Microsoft Office Button, and then click Excel Options. Click to select the Trust access to the VBA project object model check box. The Developer tab is the place to go when you want to do or use the following: Write macros. Run macros that you previously recorded. Use XML commands. Use ActiveX controls. Create applications to use with Microsoft Office programs. Use form controls in Microsoft Excel. Work with the.

Check out the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center dialog box. To display this dialog box, choose Developer → Code → Macro Security.

By default, Excel uses the Disable All Macros with Notification option. With this setting in effect, if you open a workbook that contains macros (and the file is not digitally “signed” or stored in a trusted location), Excel displays a warning. If you are certain that the workbook comes from a trusted source, click Enable Macros, and the macros will be enabled.

You see the pop-up box only if the VBE is open. Otherwise, Excel displays an eye-catching Security Warning above the Formula bar. If you know the workbook is safe, click the Enable Content button to enable the macros. To use the workbook without macros, click the X to dismiss the warning.

Full Specifications What's new in version 11.6.6This update improves security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code.GeneralPublisherPublisher web siteRelease DateDecember 14, 2011Date AddedDecember 14, 2011Version11.6.6CategoryCategorySubcategoryOperating SystemsOperating SystemsMac OS X 10.2/10.3/10.3.9/10.4/10.4 PPC/10.5/10.5 PPC/10.6/10.7Additional RequirementsNoneDownload InformationFile Size16.41MBFile NameOffice2004-1166UpdateEN.dmgPopularityTotal Downloads321,045Downloads Last Week32PricingLicense ModelPurchaseLimitationsNot availablePricePaid.

Excel will remember if you’ve designated a workbook to be safe. So the next time you open it, you won’t see the Security Warning.

Perhaps the best way to handle macro security is to designate one or more folders as trusted locations. All the workbooks in a trusted location are opened without a macro warning. You designate trusted folders in the Trusted Locations section of the Trust Center dialog box.

If you want to find out what the other macro security settings imply, press F1 while the Macro Settings section of the Trust Center dialog box is in view. You’ll get a Help screen that describes the security settings.