Be wary of opening an attachment from an unknown source as it can have serious consequences for everyone at CDU.
Points to note are:
- do not run or enable macros on documents you do not know or trust. When opening a document, it will ask you if you want to enable macros, never enable macros on a document you do not totally trust.
- be very cautious around phone contacts asking or pressuring you into opening documents and enabling macros.
- if in doubt please forward emails containing documents with macros to CDU.SecurityAlerts@cdu.edu.au.
- do not open documents from private or personal email addresses containing macros while connected to the CDU network directly or via VPN.
Recognising a macro document
Macros were designed to be helpful and provide document automation, but now they have been subverted and are often malicious.
The icon for Word and Excel documents that have Macros looks like these:
Word
Excel
Macros can also come in other file formats, such as PDF, so beware of opening any documents.
If you open the document, it will ask if you want to enable content.
Never click "Enable Content" unless you trust the document.
Further information on Macro viruses can be found here Norton - Macros Viruses and here Caliro - What is a Macro Virus.