Category:	Malware
Type:	Macro
Platform:	W32

A macro is a type of mini-program included in some applications. Malware can be embedded in a macro and is executed whenever the macro is run.

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About Macros

Macros are sets of instructions that can be triggered by a single command (or even by clicking a button in a program's user interface). Macros are usually embedded in applications or documents, and are often used to execute commonly-performed or repetitive tasks that the user would otherwise have to do.

Though macros are extremely useful, they can be exploited and misused to deliver, execute and hide malware, which are thus often referred to as "macro viruses".

Though numerous applications use macros to improve their user-friendliness, macro viruses are most commonly associated with Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel or Access.

Most macros will only work with a specific version of a specific application, though there are a very few macro viruses that are capable of operating in multiple environments.

More

For more information, see Terminology: Macro.