HELP DESK Q. Jimmy Attias of Gibraltar complains: I have been using Microsoft Office 97, and there was always something that bothered me. When you put a password on a document in Word, you cannot open this file without first typing in the password. But, incredibly, you can actually delete the document without first typing in the password. A: This problem, which could enable someone to delete your files either maliciously or accidentally, results from the division of labor in your computer. The password-protection scheme is part of Office, but Windows controls creation and deletion of files. And even though both are Microsoft products, they don't always cooperate closely. The underlying problem is that the way Windows 95 stores files is essentially unchanged from the early days of DOS, and there is no effective way of protecting data. If you really want protection, you'll have to go to Windows NT, which provides a secure file system. And by the way, that Word password is little defense against a serious attacker. For better protection, consider a more robust encryption product, such as Symantec For Your Eyes Only or McAfee PCCrypto.

Updated June 23, 1997 by bwwebmaster
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