Microsoft disables Excel 4.0 macros by default to protect users
Microsoft is preparing to disable Excel 4.0 XLM macros by default on all Microsoft 365 subscribers to protect users from malicious documents.
The Excel 4.0 macro, also known as the XLM macro, was added to Excel in 1992. It allows the user to enter various commands into the cell to perform a certain task.
Although VBA macros were introduced in Excel 5.0, bad guys have continued to use XLM macros over the years to trick users into downloading malware or performing other undesirable behaviors. Cyberattack campaigns using Excel 4.0 XLM macros have been reported including TrickBot, Qbot, Dridex, Zloader.
Because the Excel 4.0 XLM macro is constantly abused, for many years Microsoft has always recommended that users disable this feature and switch to using VBA macros. This is because VBA macros have an Anti-Malware Scan Interface (AMSI) that can be used by security software to scan macros that contain malicious code.
An administrator of an organization or enterprise can disable Excel 4.0 macros by using Group Policy. Meanwhile, users can turn it off using Enable XLM macro setting when VBA macro is enabled in Excel Trus Center.
Microsoft prepares to disable Excel 4.0 XLM macros by default
Instead of waiting for organizations, businesses, and users to manually disable XLM macros, Microsoft has just announced that they will disable Excel 4.0 XLM macros by default from early October on beta. Next, they will implement this setup on the final build.
The specific schedule is as follows:
- At the end of October, the Excel 4.0 XLM macro key was deployed on Insider-Slow channel and completed in early November
- In early November, the Excel 4.0 XLM macro key was deployed on the official Current Channel and completed in mid-November
- Deploy and complete the Excel 4.0 XLM macro course on the Monthly Enterprise Channel (MEC) in mid-December
Microsoft will not make any changes to users who have disabled XLM macros manually or through Group Policy. Of course, if you want, you can still enable XLM macros after Microsoft locks them by visiting the Excel Trust Center.
You should read it
- Instructions on how to create and use macros in Excel Create macros, save macros, run macros
- The easiest way to Use Macros in Excel
- Instructions for creating Macros in Excel
- How to enable macros on Excel
- How to turn on and off macros in Microsoft Office 365
- MS Excel 2003 - Lesson 8: Excel Macro - Automate complex tasks
- How to create Macros in Word 2007
- What is a macro in Excel? How to create and run a Macro in Excel
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