Word 2002 adds a convenient Security tab to the Tools/Options dialog box for easy access to security-related features.  One of the security features involves protecting your personal information when you save a file -- it's about time!  Read on to take a look at security features for Word 2002.

The Security Tab

From the Tools menu, choose Options and the Security tab.  The tab appears as in the graphic below.

Note that password protection, digital signatures, privacy options, and macro security are now all contained in one place.  You can also access security options when saving a file.  In the File/Save as dialog box, choose Tools and Security Options, as below.

Passwords & Protection

To encrypt the document with a password for opening it, choose the first check box.  The Advanced tab allows you to choose an Encryption Type.  The options listed are those available on your particular computer.  So, if you need to share the file, you might want to consider leaving the option as Office 97/2000 Compatible. 

There are programs available that will crack the password for Office files in case a password is forgotten or lost.  However, I'm sure you can see how these programs could be used to also crack passwords for files for which users are not supposed to have access.  If you are concerned about this, you may want to change the encryption type from Office 97/2000 Compatible to something else.

You can also add a password that would be necessary to modify the file, or choose the Read-only recommended check box.  These two features are different.  Read-only recommended makes a suggestion to the user who opens the file that no changes should be made.  However, they can still modify the file and save it under a different name.  Adding a password to modify the file ensures that to make changes the user must know the password.

Digital signatures may or may not be legally binding in a court of law.  You should check with the appropriate jurisdiction to find out if the signature can be legally binding.  Essentially, in Office XP, a certificate is used to produce a digital signature.  The certificate used to create this signature confirms that the macro or document originated from the signer, and the signature confirms that it has not been altered. When you set the macro security level, you can run macros based on whether they are digitally signed by a developer on your list of trusted sources.  To add, remove, or view the properties of a digital signature, choose the Digital Signature button.  The Digital Signature dialog box is shown below.

The Protect Document button protects the document for tracked changes, comments and forms.  You can add a password here as well:

Continue on for Privacy options and Macro security...

[Applying Breaks]	<< go to >>	[Security Features (p2)]

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