OpenOffice.org confirmed over the weekend that the newly discovered macro virus is not a threat to the company’s open-source office software suite.
These are the official responses from the developers of the OpenOffice open-source office suite regarding media reports about the discovery of a virus targeting their applications.
OpenOffice.org stated that macro viruses can potentially affect any application that supports macro programming features.
“Macros are a very useful feature in any office software suite. This feature is designed to help users automate repetitive tasks,” said Jacqueline McNally, an expert at OpenOffice.org. “However, these very tasks pose risks such as modifying or deleting files. This is why macros have become a favorite target for virus programmers.”
McNally also mentioned that OpenOffice always prompts users before executing any macros, which helps prevent unauthorized automatic commands from being executed. She emphasized that the developer is highly focused on security and will respond promptly to any issues that arise.
OpenOffice announced that it will not release a patch for the newly discovered macro virus issue, as it is not considered a serious problem. “From a technical standpoint, the macro virus is not a real virus because it cannot replicate itself. With the default settings of OpenOffice, this virus cannot spread without user intervention.”
To avoid attacks, OpenOffice warns users not to accept any files from unknown sources.
Hoang Dung
