Topic 1.2: What is a MS Word Macro Virus?
An MS WORD MACRO Virus, is a macro (list of instructions) or template file (usually with the .DOT extension) which masquerades as legitimate MS WORD documents (usually with the extension *.DOC). An infected *.DOC file, doesn’t look any different to the average PC user, as it can still contain a normal document. The difference is that this document is really just a template or macro file, with instructions to replicate, and possibly cause damage. MS WORD will interpret the *.DOT macro/template file regardless of extension, as a template file. This allows for it being passed off as a legitimate document (*.DOC) This FAQ takes the position that a document is meant to be DATA, and a MACRO is at least partially executable CODE. When a document has been infected, it has been merged with executable code in a multi-part file, part data/part executable. This tends to be hidden from the user, who expects a document to be data that is READ, and not some combination of DATA and executable code des
