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#1
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Macros Security
My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his
words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#2
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Macros Security
In xl2002 and later, you could certify your project. The user of the
software has to then accept you as a trusted source when prompted. Trying to set security to LOW would be the type of action expected of a person distributing a virus. An Overview: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...tml/combat.asp http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../odc_dsvba.asp Code Signing Office XP Visual Basic for Applications Macro Projects http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q288985 XL2002: About Digital Signatures in Excel Workbooks http://support.microsoft.com/default...38&Product=ofw About Digital Signatures and Code Signing in Workbooks in Excel 2003 http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=206637 OFF2000: Overview of Digital Certificates (Q206637) http://support.microsoft.com/?KBID=217221 OFF2000: Using SelfCert to Create a Digital Certificate for VBA Projects (Q217221) Another reference: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en...vbaproject.asp http://support.microsoft.com/default...;en-us;Q329228 OFFXP: How to Make Sure That Your Office Document Has a Valid Digital Signature http://office.microsoft.com/assistan...ustworthy.aspx How to Tell if Digital Certificate Is Trustworthy in Office XP Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#3
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Macros Security
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.
http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#4
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Macros Security
So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they
are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#5
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Macros Security
Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new
book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#6
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Macros Security
If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the
code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#7
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Macros Security
well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S
certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#8
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Macros Security
My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally
signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#9
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Macros Security
Anne
There are two very different issues he Protecting code from thieves, and signing code so that it can be allowed to run in schools computers. A signature is no protection against theft, it is a "run me without further questions, I'm from a trusted programmer" label. Any good hacker can steal the code, but the signature in question can not be hacked or imitated from the file as far as I know. HTH. Best wishes Harald "Anne Troy" skrev i melding news:ebb9f$42d578d6$97c5108d$22631@allthenewsgroup s.com... My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#10
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Macros Security
Where did anyone ever get the idea that I was telling him people could hack
his signature? I never said that. He said that "the school can not market them..." This tells me he wants to SELL it. Sorry, but I would never SELL any Excel product that only has a digital signature. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Harald Staff" wrote in message ... Anne There are two very different issues he Protecting code from thieves, and signing code so that it can be allowed to run in schools computers. A signature is no protection against theft, it is a "run me without further questions, I'm from a trusted programmer" label. Any good hacker can steal the code, but the signature in question can not be hacked or imitated from the file as far as I know. HTH. Best wishes Harald "Anne Troy" skrev i melding news:ebb9f$42d578d6$97c5108d$22631@allthenewsgroup s.com... My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#11
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Macros Security
Hi Bill,
Looks like you generated a long discussion! I'm (very) far from an expert in these matters but I won't let that stop me. It occurs to me that you have two issues: (1) Gaining the confidence of other schools to allow the macros to run (your original question); (2) Securing your code from theft. To deal with the first issue: (a) You don't definitely have to have a signature. If your code is an AddIn and installed as such (by the school's IT staff) then security can still be set as Very High. Rob Bovey's wonderful CodeCleaner runs just fine on my machine under such conditions (XL2003). So if you deploy like this the IT staff can be confident they're not exposed to other macros. (b) OK - say you don't want to use an AddIn. Get yourself a signature and have the IT staff trust it on their machines. It can't be recreated by someone else. There are several ways to gain a signature. Buy one (from Verisign and the like) - see Anne's post. (My take: expensive, not worth it.) Create your own. You CAN do this (for free) - using MS's makecert.exe or selfcert.exe. Once your original signature has been trusted by the school's machines you can send new versions that are still signed. Second issue - securing your hard work. Again, a couple of options in my mind: (a) Just password protect your project (with a long password!). You can also remove all the comments and spacing (using Codecleaner) - just to be on the safe side and inconvenience any hacker. It's secure-ish - people on this NG will be able to explain just how much. But let's face it - this is for schools' whiteboards. Schools aren't in the habit of stealing software (as far as I know). It's probably cheaper to buy it than crack it. And if someone rips it off and sells it - sue the hell out of them! Probably far more lucrative since they'll be doing some hard selling for you for free! (I've sold AddIns before now and haven't lost any sleep over it. There's probably thousands of AddIns out there on the internet right now you can buy. So it works.) (b) Make it uncrackable if you are worried. Anne's suggestion of a web based solution is one. I think a far cheaper solution (and also her suggestion) is to port it to a VB executable. This is very easy to do generally. (Depending on your application's requirements... if you need to control Excel still - event trapping through OLE might be tricky, I've never tried..) Why a school is happy to trust an executable file but not a cleanly installed AddIn is beyond me though. I hope at least some of this might be helpful. Good luck. Gareth Bill Hall wrote: My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#12
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Macros Security
He never asked about protecting his code. He asked about a trusted
developer and implied he wanted his code to open with a macro prompt. You introduced concern about protecting the code. No one suggested distributing the code with nothing but a certificate. You have mixed two different topics together as Harald illuminated. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:6fed4$42d5a3b2$97c5108d$23863@allthenewsgroup s.com... Where did anyone ever get the idea that I was telling him people could hack his signature? I never said that. He said that "the school can not market them..." This tells me he wants to SELL it. Sorry, but I would never SELL any Excel product that only has a digital signature. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Harald Staff" wrote in message ... Anne There are two very different issues he Protecting code from thieves, and signing code so that it can be allowed to run in schools computers. A signature is no protection against theft, it is a "run me without further questions, I'm from a trusted programmer" label. Any good hacker can steal the code, but the signature in question can not be hacked or imitated from the file as far as I know. HTH. Best wishes Harald "Anne Troy" skrev i melding news:ebb9f$42d578d6$97c5108d$22631@allthenewsgroup s.com... My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
#13
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Macros Security
If you say so.
******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... He never asked about protecting his code. He asked about a trusted developer and implied he wanted his code to open with a macro prompt. You introduced concern about protecting the code. No one suggested distributing the code with nothing but a certificate. You have mixed two different topics together as Harald illuminated. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:6fed4$42d5a3b2$97c5108d$23863@allthenewsgroup s.com... Where did anyone ever get the idea that I was telling him people could hack his signature? I never said that. He said that "the school can not market them..." This tells me he wants to SELL it. Sorry, but I would never SELL any Excel product that only has a digital signature. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Harald Staff" wrote in message ... Anne There are two very different issues he Protecting code from thieves, and signing code so that it can be allowed to run in schools computers. A signature is no protection against theft, it is a "run me without further questions, I'm from a trusted programmer" label. Any good hacker can steal the code, but the signature in question can not be hacked or imitated from the file as far as I know. HTH. Best wishes Harald "Anne Troy" skrev i melding news:ebb9f$42d578d6$97c5108d$22631@allthenewsgroup s.com... My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
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Macros Security
You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill.
However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. I think you said so <g -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c40ab$42d5d780$97c5108d$28375@allthenewsgroup s.com... If you say so. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... He never asked about protecting his code. He asked about a trusted developer and implied he wanted his code to open with a macro prompt. You introduced concern about protecting the code. No one suggested distributing the code with nothing but a certificate. You have mixed two different topics together as Harald illuminated. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:6fed4$42d5a3b2$97c5108d$23863@allthenewsgroup s.com... Where did anyone ever get the idea that I was telling him people could hack his signature? I never said that. He said that "the school can not market them..." This tells me he wants to SELL it. Sorry, but I would never SELL any Excel product that only has a digital signature. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Harald Staff" wrote in message ... Anne There are two very different issues he Protecting code from thieves, and signing code so that it can be allowed to run in schools computers. A signature is no protection against theft, it is a "run me without further questions, I'm from a trusted programmer" label. Any good hacker can steal the code, but the signature in question can not be hacked or imitated from the file as far as I know. HTH. Best wishes Harald "Anne Troy" skrev i melding news:ebb9f$42d578d6$97c5108d$22631@allthenewsgroup s.com... My point exactly. So if the OP is wanting to SELL his technology, digitally signing it really buys him no protection at all. Is that correct? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "ben" (remove this if mailing direct) wrote in message ... well certainly they can sign it themselves ann. But without BILL'S certificate they can either only sign with a self-made certificate or with their own purchased certificate. -- When you lose your mind, you free your life. "STEVE BELL" wrote: If you password protect the VBE it makes it harder for anyone to see the code. -- steveB Remove "AYN" from email to respond "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:c0e8$42d574d3$97c5108d$22207@allthenewsgroups .com... Are you saying no one can export all the code, copy the sheets to a new book, and sign it themselves? ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Tom Ogilvy" wrote in message ... So you saying anyone can get the code, modify it, and then certify that they are Bill. I think not. -- Regards, Tom Ogilvy "Anne Troy" wrote in message news:e5511$42d56e75$97c5108d$21336@allthenewsgroup s.com... You need a Digital Signature to market something like this Bill. http://www.verisign.com/products-ser...80041570000002 However, I don't recommend it because anyone can then copy/crack your code and send it to others. If you have a great idea, my recommendations a 1) Get a web developer to make a web-based application for you, to which you let users subscribe on a monthly basis. 2) If web isn't feasible, then have a VB application created from it, or a COM add-in, either of which is far harder to reverse-engineer than macros in an Excel workbook. As it stands now, anybody could take your macro home, self-sign it, and make themselves the trusted developer at work. ******************* ~Anne Troy www.OfficeArticles.com "Bill Hall" wrote in message ... My school ICT manager, although impressed with my Excel programming (his words, not mine!) of Interactive Whiteboard Maths Excel workbooks, tells me that the school can not market them because of their use of MACROS - (really VBA code behind Excel). Other schools probably won't have the courage or imagination to allow my macros to be used my the machines on their networks. I am assuming that I can't write code to "correct" their macro security to "low". What should I do? I notice a phrase "trusted macro developer" on a dialogue box. Could you explain what that means and how someone is credited with that status. Thanking in anticipation Bill Hall |
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