MACRO VIRUS

If you are familiar with Microsoft word then you will be familiar with what a macro is. They are automated set of instructions which you can give inside a word document(or excel spreadsheets also) so that these commands can then be executed when required.

Now a macro virus is generally a virus that doesn’t affect the normal windows program files. Rather they are the one which attack your words files. Even your PowerPoint or excel files can come at a stake if this virus somehow got accesses to these files.

One of the most dangerous effects of a macro virus is that they are platform independent and once you open the  infected file , this virus replicates itself and then spreads to other files and programs  and thus they can be very destructive.

SYMPTOMS OF A MACRO VIRUS ATTACK

1.    You may be prompted to enter a password for a non-encrypted file

2.    You may see words like "WAZZU" at certain locations.

3.    When you are trying to save a file the only options available may be just .dot or something other (.doc will vanish).

4.    Receive unexpected messages when you try to open a macro virus infected file.

How to remove a macro virus?

One of the basics methods is to remove automatic execution of macros when you open a word document.  To do this makes sure that when you open a word document hold shift key. This prevents the word from loading any macros in the memory.  

Well this is just a temporary method .

If you are really infected with a macro virus then refer this page.

Nowadays Microsoft word comes with an inbuilt protection form macro virus which is activated by default.  So this type of virus is not a great concern these days. Just make sure that you have not turned the macro protection. You can refer the word documentation for more information on this subject.