# What protections does a password on an Excel file give me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 11, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538 "2010-01-11T18:50:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/1 "2010-01-11T18:50:59Z")
Two hours after sending an email on a pit thread, arguing with a guy who though it was fine to steal from a company (rental car) as long as they were insured, I awoke at 2 AM to find a burglar in my bedroom. Reverse karma, I don’t know. After chasing him out of my house, I found that he had indeed stolen my lap top. My question: In the laptop was an Excel file with many passwords for accounts, web sites and the like. And while I know I have to cancel credit cards, change passwords, does the fact that the Excel file was password protected give me any protection? Or can this be opened by a computer geek in five minutes. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/2 "2010-01-11T19:42:24Z")
I could open it within 5 minutes. If you are really parnoid try out Trucrypt its free and open source and I have used it for many things I want to protect [porn] Was the file on your desktop labeled “ALL MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT INFO” or in some random location with a random file name. Chances are it was some petty thieft who will sell it for whatever he can. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/3 "2010-01-11T19:52:07Z")
What version? Supposedly 2007’s format was tightened up. He can bruteforce the password if its weak, but if youre using the new version you might be okay. Or at least okay long enough to have time to change passwords and such. If it was compatible with 97/2000/2003 then it uses the old method which has known vulnerabilities. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/4 "2010-01-11T19:53:03Z")
I have a desktop PC in my house, which is (slightly) more difficult to quickly steal than a laptop. In my paranoia, I still keep my password spreadsheet on a CD stored separately, with no copy on the PC’s HD. I guess I will continue to do so. as **Chris** suggests, I chose not to name it “ALL MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT INFO,” but something more nondescript so as to not draw attention in the unlikely event that the CD is found by a miscreant. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/5 "2010-01-11T20:26:25Z")
> [@Joe Frickin Friday](#): > > I have a desktop PC in my house, which is (slightly) more difficult to quickly steal than a laptop. In my paranoia, I still keep my password spreadsheet on a CD stored separately, with no copy on the PC’s HD. I guess I will continue to do so. > > as **Chris** suggests, I chose not to name it “ALL MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT INFO,” but something more nondescript so as to not draw attention in the unlikely event that the CD is found by a miscreant. It’s labled something that’s not descriptive like Perry or something. I agree someone would have to look for it. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/6 "2010-01-11T20:34:04Z")
That’s a pretty creepy experience. I was burglarized once and was freaked out for weeks, and I wasn’t even home when it happened. Hope you’re doing OK. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/7 "2010-01-11T21:11:25Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > That’s a pretty creepy experience. I was burglarized once and was freaked out for weeks, and I wasn’t even home when it happened. Hope you’re doing OK. Thanks much. It was VERY creepy waking up and seeing someone 5 feet away. Took me hours to get back to sleep. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/8 "2010-01-12T14:09:11Z")
In all likelihood, your run-of-the-mill home invader isn’t also going to specialize in identify theft and password cracking. Chances are he’ll try to unload the laptop as soon as possible (so keep an eye on out eBay for “great laptop deals”). Also, may I recommend [Lojack](http://www.absolute.com/products/lojackforlaptops) for your next laptop? ---
**Author:** ![PuddingCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@PuddingCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PuddingCat)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/9 "2010-01-13T11:44:09Z")
If you have Excel 2003 or better and have chosen a good password (non dictionary word, number & letters and preferably mixed case with punctuation) then you’re pretty safe. In Office 2003 they went with real encryption and stopped storing the key with the file. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-protections-does-a-password-on-an-excel-file-give-me/524538/10 "2010-01-13T13:45:52Z")
> [@trmatthe](#): > > If you have Excel 2003 or better and have chosen a good password (non dictionary word, number & letters and preferably mixed case with punctuation) then you’re pretty safe. I don’t think so. Hits for [“crack excel 2003 password”](http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_enUS302US302&q=crack+excel+2003+password).