{"id":59595,"date":"2018-09-18T12:01:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T17:01:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/?p=59595"},"modified":"2018-09-18T12:01:07","modified_gmt":"2018-09-18T17:01:07","slug":"microsoft-macros-malware-distribution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/microsoft-macros-malware-distribution\/","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Macros Listed as Primary Malware Distribution Tactic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hackers Use Microsoft Macros to Distribute Malware<\/h4>\n

Tech Republic<\/a> has determined\u00a0in the month of August, approximately 45% of malicious activity monitored was executed through Microsoft’s macros feature.\u00a0 This means that the malware was hidden in a Microsoft program and upon opening, the malware would execute assuming macros were enabled.\u00a0 Often times Microsoft’s macro feature is enabled by default.\u00a0 Therefore, if this was the case on a device the malware would run on its own.\u00a0 However, if the Microsoft macro feature is not enabled, a prompt populates on the screen to enable the feature to “open” the document.\u00a0 Upon clicking on enabling macros, the malware begins to run.<\/p>\n

The only way to stop the malware from executing, if macros become enabled, would be with a security solution using a\u00a0whitelist approach<\/a>.\u00a0 In this particular case, the malware would still attempt to execute; however, after determining the file is not on the whitelist, it would be blocked from running.<\/p>\n

To disable macros, follow the instruction below:<\/p>\n