Change macro security settings
You can change macro security settings in the Trust Center, unless a system administrator in your organization has changed the default settings to prevent you from changing the settings.
- On the Developer tab, in the Code group, click Macro Security.
Tip If the Developer tab is not displayed, click the Microsoft Office Button
, click Excel Options, and then in the Popular category, under Top options for working with Excel, click Show Developer tab in the Ribbon.
- In the Macro Settings category, under Macro Settings, click the option that you want.
Note Any changes that you make in the Macro Settings category in Excel apply only to Excel and do not affect any other Microsoft Office program.
Tip You can also access the Trust Center in the Excel Options dialog box. Click the Microsoft Office Button
Using digital signatures
The 2007 Office release uses Microsoft Authenticode technology to enable macro creators to digitally sign (digital signature: An electronic, encryption-based, secure stamp of authentication on a macro or document. This signature confirms that the macro or document originated from the signer and has not been altered.) a file or a macro project (macro project: A collection of components, including forms, code, and class modules, that make up a macro. Macro projects created in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications can be included in add-ins and in most Microsoft Office programs.). The certificate that is used to create this signature confirms that the macro or document originated from the signer, and the signature confirms that the macro or document has not been altered.
After you install your digital certificate (digital certificate: Attachment for a file, macro project, or e-mail message that vouches for authenticity, provides secure encryption, or supplies a verifiable signature. To digitally sign macro projects, you must install a digital certificate.), you can sign files and macro projects.
Obtaining a digital certificate for signing
You can obtain a digital certificate from a commercial certificate authority (CA) (certificate authority (CA): A commercial organization that issues digital certificates, keeps track of who is assigned to a certificate, signs certificates to verify their validity, and tracks which certificates are revoked or expired.), or from your internal security administrator or information technology (IT) professional.
To learn more about certificate authorities that offer services for Microsoft products, see the list of Microsoft Root Certificate Program Members.
Creating your own digital certificate for self-signing
You can also create your own self-signing certificate by using the Selfcert.exe tool.
Note Because a digital certificate that you create isn't issued by a formal certificate authority, macro projects that are signed by using such a certificate are referred to as self-signed projects. Microsoft Office trusts a self-signed certificate only on a computer that has that certificate in your Personal Certificates store.
For more information about how to digitally sign a macro, see Digitally sign a macro project.
