Validating Office Files
If you have Office 2010, the software checks files from other sources to make sure they are valid, meaning the documents are filled with words, numbers and images, not malware, malicious code and attacks.
Now the exact same Office File Validation Tool is available for Office 2003 and 2007 as a download (presuming the tool is valid enough to install).
Hackers have been futzing with Office files in what are called file format attacks. These attacks are thwarted by the validation tool which compares the downloaded or imported file with a set of rules -- similar to how security software uses virus signatures.
Posted by Doug Barney on 04/20/2011 at 1:18 PM