Breaking Internal Passwords

[Steven]

I posted a new question recently about security and the answer received was
that internal passwords can be bypassed and changed, look at website:

http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html

Now my question is : What if the excel file, I will call it File01.xls has
the VBA password protected and the user cannot get to that files VBA to run
the macro. Would they be able to run the macro from say File02.xls and
either return the passwords or change the passwords on the Sheet Protect and
Workbook Protect on File01.xls?

Thank you,

Steven

 

[Barb Reinhardt]

You can run macros if the VBA Project is password protected. If there are
errors in the code, it won't highlight the lines that are in error. They
can run the code, they just can't see it.

 

[Jim Thomlinson]

Suffice it to say that anything you want to try to do to protect info stored
in XL can be hacked... You can make it more difficult but if someone really
wants in they can get in... XL is not secure. XL security is like loking the
doors on your car. A good habit to get into but don't get the idea that your
car is safe...

The closest to secure that I have ever gotten was to store all of the
confidential data in a database that was password protected. I used a
spreadsheet for the front end. Confidential info was stored in userforms and
not sheets so that when the spreadsheet was closed the data was lost.

VBA and File passwords are reasonably strong. Workbook and worksheet
passwords are weak.

 

[Steven]

Jim,

Thank you for your repsonse. I was thinking you would say something like
that. That means that our IT department has to setup proper security to
directories so only the people who need access can gain access. I just
mention that because our company has been weak in that area.

Question. When you say in a database, are you saying like access? I have
written access programs and excel macros but have not ever used excel as a
front end to an access database.

Thanks,

Steven

 

[Dave Peterson]

Yep.

JE's code was written to work on the activesheet/activeworkbook.

In fact, lots of people create common utilities that they want to run against
any worksheet in any workbook. Instead of having those utilities in each
workbook, they create a single workbook and run the macros from there.

If you want to try, you can put the code in file02.xls and then make sure
file01.xls is the active workbook.

Then hit alt-f8 (or tools|macro|macros) and select the macro and run it.