Passwords Quit Working

[77vetter]

I have several add-in/macro files that we deploy to users in our company. We have password protected them to prevent users from manipulating the code. The passwords have been in place for 10-15 years with no issue. A couple of weeks ago all of a sudden we developers can no longer open the VBA code with the password, we keep getting Invalid Password error.. We do not have caps lock on, we have tried everything and nothing works, we can no longer get at the code.

We even got a license to "Office Key - Password Recovery for MS Office" We ran that tool on the file and it extracts the password as we know it to be but obviously we can not open the VBA code. The company has been applying hardening schemes to all computers and servers so we "assume" that is somehow related? Just not sure where to look and how to proceed. We have Windows 10 O365 installed on all our laptops. I did find a terminal server where the macros are also installed and that was running Office 2016 but could not get the passwords to work there either!

We are at a loss and not sure what to do next.

we are just trying to understand what happened to make the passwords quit working. One day they worked, the next, they quit working.

 

[igold]

If you guys are the developers, and the company is applying hardening schemes to all computers and servers, then who is the company using to do their hardening work, if not their own developers. Perhaps you may want to ask them. Also, I would love to see the link to this utility:

"Office Key - Password Recovery for MS Office"

we are just trying to understand what happened to make the passwords quit working. One day they worked, the next, they quit working.

Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the people who changed your system as opposed to an Excel Help Forum, who have no clue about you, your company, or your systems.

 

[77vetter]

If you guys are the developers, and the company is applying hardening schemes to all computers and servers, then who is the company using to do their hardening work, if not their own developers. Perhaps you may want to ask them. Also, I would love to see the link to this utility:

"Office Key - Password Recovery for MS Office"



Wouldn't it make more sense to ask the people who changed your system as opposed to an Excel Help Forum, who have no clue about you, your company, or your systems.

That's the problem they apply hardening without anyone knowing what is being applied.

 

[igold]

The only question is- who is "they". If not the developers, perhaps the CTO. Go ask him/her.

As suspected the link provided is to a third party company and not Microsoft. Don't you have access to backup files that are kept securely in case of a Ransomware attack or a natural disaster or fire. With all due respect it sounds like "they" have accomplished what they set out to do, or we would not be having this conversation.