Microsoft has taken a significant step in enhancing user security by restricting ActiveX activation in Office applications. ActiveX, which was previously used to enrich interactions within Office documents, is now considered a security loophole that can be exploited by hackers to spread malware and execute malicious code.
For those unfamiliar, ActiveX is a technology developed by Microsoft to enable software applications and components to interact within the Windows system. Essentially, ActiveX is commonly used in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office applications to run interactive controls such as forms, animations, and multimedia elements.
However, due to its deep system access, this technology has frequently been targeted by malware, prompting Microsoft to limit its use in the latest versions of Windows and Office to bolster security.
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With the April 2025 update, applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio in Microsoft 365 will now feature a new configuration that automatically disables all ActiveX controls without notification. Therefore, when users open files containing ActiveX elements, they will see the message “BLOCKED CONTENT: The ActiveX content in this file is blocked,” with no immediate option to enable it.
Rest assured, even though this feature is disabled by default, users can still activate it through the Microsoft Office Trust Center by following these steps:
This change is well-intentioned, as Microsoft aims to reduce the security risks associated with ActiveX, which is often exploited in phishing and malware distribution. What are your thoughts? Share your opinions in the comments below.
Via: Microsoft
