HELP! Word '04 Macro Virus!!!

[iMapple]

Hey guys. Long time visitor/lurker on MacRumors, first post. I hope someone can help me out here. Thanks in advance.

Apparently, some of my Word documents are infected with a macro virus. I'm not sure how many are infected, although I know it's not all Word docs. I'm running Office 2004 for Mac Student and Teacher Edition. How can I fix this? I'd like to prevent other docs from also becoming infected. I have no anti-virus installed and I'm still running Tiger 10.4.11 (hoping Apple releases Snow Leopard soon so I can finally upgrade).

 

[MacDawg]

Not certain, but I think ClamXav can handle this
Worth a look

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[iMapple]

Thanks for the suggestion MacDawg.

However, I read on the ClamXav page that the program may move files around your computer. It suggests I backup any important data. I'm unable to do this now as I do not have an external hard drive on hand. Is there a work around to this macros thing or do I HAVE TO get another HD, backup and install ClamXav then.

I might as well get Leopard also. Although I'd rather not, given this economy and the fact that Snow Leopard is due later this year... seems like a waste of $$...

 

[Sun Baked]

Simply turn off the MS Office Macros, MS tells you how to do this.

Since you are running a Mac OS, the word macros tend not to self-replicate as easy being it wasn't written to spread across Finder ... just Windows.

 

[iMapple]

Simply turn off the MS Office Macros, MS tells you how to do this.

I'm a little confused as to what you mean. Should I turn off Word macros or macros for ALL Office programs? If the latter, do you know how I'd do this?

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

ClamXAV doesn't detect OS X threats. Since this is a macro virus, it may, so it's worth a shot. It won't move files around, if a threat is detected, you get a popup window asking what to do (providing you selected the appropriate checkbox in the preferences.)

 

[Sun Baked]

Turn of Macros in all the Office apps, make sure the Macro Virus Protection is on, and check to see if deleting the Normal document template is warranted.

If a document says it has macros and would you like to run them, just make sure you check to be sure it isn't infected.