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XL2000: Q&A About Excel Macro/Laroux Macro Virus


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Summary

In July 1996, Microsoft learned of a nondestructive macro virus that affects Microsoft Excel.

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More information

Q: What are macro viruses?

A: Macro viruses are a type of virus that use a program's own macro programming language to distribute themselves. Unlike previous viruses, macro viruses do not infect programs; they infect documents.

Q: What is Sofa?

A: This is a nonharmful, nondestructive macro virus that does not affect data in any way. Infected files display the application header "Microsofa Excel" instead of "Microsoft Excel."

Q: What is ExcelMacro/Laroux?

A: This is a nonharmful, nondestructive concept virus. It simply appends a macro sheet called "laroux" to workbooks. It does not affect data or anything else in the workbook. This is the first replicating macro virus ever discovered in Microsoft Excel.

Q: What is Laroux B?

A: Laroux B is a variation of the original virus that is the same in all respects, but can overwrite existing macros on the user's Personal.xls macro sheet.

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Keywords: KB263188, kbfaq, kbprogramming, kbualink97, kbhowto

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Article Info
Article ID : 263188
Revision : 3
Created on : 9/25/2003
Published on : 9/25/2003
Exists online : False
Views : 237