I got Word 2002 with my new computer in the Summer of 2003, and have
never patched it. Been diligent about keeping XP Pro SP1 patched,
except that I haven't upgraded Windows to SP2.

My version of Word says SP1. I'm going to be receiving and editing
other people's Word files (something I haven't been doing at all), so
I'm thinking I better update Word. I understand that unpatched, I
could expose myself to malicious macro code.

Do I have anything to worry about when I do this? Will I notice any
differences when I run Word 2002 updated? Is there a recommended way
to do this?

I hate messing with something that's working, but I think I better do
this and want to do it in the way least likely to cause me any
trouble. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Andy

If it is working well, leave it alone. You will still be able to edit other
people's documents. Your AV software should be a first line of defence
against malicious code and if you set Word's macro security to Medium, you
will not be able to open a document containing macros without receiving an
alert, which will give you the opportunity to establish what the code is.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org


Andy wrote:
I got Word 2002 with my new computer in the Summer of 2003, and have
never patched it. Been diligent about keeping XP Pro SP1 patched,
except that I haven't upgraded Windows to SP2.

My version of Word says SP1. I'm going to be receiving and editing
other people's Word files (something I haven't been doing at all), so
I'm thinking I better update Word. I understand that unpatched, I
could expose myself to malicious macro code.

Do I have anything to worry about when I do this? Will I notice any
differences when I run Word 2002 updated? Is there a recommended way
to do this?

I hate messing with something that's working, but I think I better do
this and want to do it in the way least likely to cause me any
trouble. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

Andy

If it is working well, leave it alone. You will still be able to edit other
people's documents. Your AV software should be a first line of defence
against malicious code


When I go to the dialog box to set macro security, it says "no virus
scanner installed". My virus software (eTrust EZ Antivirus) doesn't
seem to have any Word specific component. Is this what you are
referring to when you're talking about the av software being the first
line of defence?

Your AV software is doubtless scanning files on access even if it doesn't
have "hooks" into Word. Be glad it doesn't actually; the Norton Office
Plug-in is one of the first add-ins we advise people to disable because it
adds nothing to security and causes all sorts of conflicts.

--
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Microsoft MVP (Word)
Words into Type
Fairhope, Alabama USA
Word MVP FAQ site: http://word.mvps.org
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all may benefit.

"Andy" wrote in message
...
If it is working well, leave it alone. You will still be able to edit
other
people's documents. Your AV software should be a first line of defence
against malicious code


When I go to the dialog box to set macro security, it says "no virus
scanner installed". My virus software (eTrust EZ Antivirus) doesn't
seem to have any Word specific component. Is this what you are
referring to when you're talking about the av software being the first
line of defence?

Suzanne, Graham -

Thanks for all this good news!


Andy