Office 2003 security

[Carl]

Which is more secure --

1) a password-protected Office 2003 Word document,
2) a password-protected Office 2003 Excel spreadsheet, or
3) a password-protected Office 2003 Access database?

Here's the origin of this question. I have a user (user 1) who would like to keep information safe from other user(s)
who could be accessing user 1's machine (co-worker, for example). I went over some possibilities with them and realized
that I don't know the answer to the above question. Do all three applications use the same "level of security" or not?
For purposes of this question, I am referring to using a database password in Access, not user-level security.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

Carl

 

[Granny Spitz via AccessMonster.com]

Which is more secure --

1) a password-protected Office 2003 Word document,
2) a password-protected Office 2003 Excel spreadsheet, or
3) a password-protected Office 2003 Access database?

They're all so easy to bypass it depends on the degree of familiarity the
user has with each of these programs. It's hardest to find free database
passwork crackers on the internet for Access 2003, so you might say it's
*slightly* more secure than the other two.

Here's the origin of this question. I have a user (user 1) who would like to keep information safe from other user(s)
who could be accessing user 1's machine (co-worker, for example).

The coworker should be logging in under his own ID so if your user stores the
documents in his own profile and the windows administrator hasn't unprotected
those folders, the other users won't be able to access those documents
without hacking tools.

Do all three applications use the same "level of security" or not?

They don't use the same methodology, if that's what you're asking. The same
hacking tool will open Word or Excel documents but it won't open an Access
database with a database password.

 

[Joan Wild]

I would say they are all equally unsecure. If a person searches the
internet for a password cracker, they are likely to find a site that cracks
all of them.