Password Protect Presentations , Documents , Workbooks Without Any Additional Software

Using passwords, you can prevent other people from opening or modifying your Microsoft Office documents, presentations, workbooks and databases. It’s important to note that if done RIGHT, the password protection / encryption is actually very good and hard to crack. So, let’s get right to it.

1. Open the Document you wish to encrypt / password protect

2. Click Tools, then Click Options

All shots taken from Microsoft Word 2003

3. Click Security tab, and then Click Advanced button

4. Scroll down and Click RC4, Microsoft Enhanced RSA and AES Cryptographic Provider. By default the Key Length is 128 and the box Encrypt document properties ischecked. Verify this and Click OK

If you skip this step, you might as well not use a password at all being that common Password Cracking tools are available which can break the lower level of encryption algorithms

Please note – It’s very important to use a STRONG password below.  Yeah yeah yeah… you don’t need to get crazy here with stupid $ymb0l$ and upper and lower case characters that you will forget 10 minutes after you type it….  Just use a long PASS PHRASE with 10 or more characters.  A Pass Phrase for instance is EASY to type, easy to remember AND VERY secure. Watch, here’s a 20 character secure password: My house is yellow!

That’s it! With spaces between the words, a capital M in the front and ended with a special character, your looking at a VERY secure password which will be near to impossible to crack using brute-force!

Ok, back to the article:

5. Click in the Password to Open box and Type a password. Click OK when finished

Note, depending on the encryption you choose, your password length my be limited to 15-18 characters.  Also, the Modify password IS limited to 15 characters and, not very secure.  It’s better to make a PDF of the document if your looking to let someone READ but not edit.

6. Renter your Password and Click OK

7. Click File, then Click Save As… (or, if you have already saved the document, just ClickSave and your done)

8. Type in a Filename and Click Save

Background Info:

• Password to open By default, this feature uses LAME encryption so be sure to add a long Pass Phrase along with Enhanced RSA & AES encryption under the Advanced Option.
• Password to modify This feature does not use any encryption method. It is designed so you can collaborate with content reviewers you trust. Is not designed to help make your file more secure. It’s a nice way to allow people to VIEW the document but restrict them from making any changes.
• Both passwords You can assign both passwords. One to access the file and one to allow specific reviewers permission to modify its content. Just be sure each password is different from the other .

Set a password in a Word document , Excel spreadsheet , PowerPoint presentation In Office 2007

It Is Very Easy In Office 2007 Just Click the Microsoft Office Button , point to Prepare, and then click Encrypt Document. 

2. In the Password box, type a password, and then click OK.

You can type up to 255 characters. By default, this feature uses AES 128-bit advanced encryption. Encryption is a standard method used to help make your file more secure.

3. In the Re-enter password box, type the password again, and then click OK.
4. To save the password, save the file.

Remove password protection from Word document , Excel spreadsheet , PowerPoint presentation In Office 2007

1. Use the password to open the presentation.
2. Click the Microsoft Office Button , point to Prepare, and then click Encrypt Document.
3. In the Encrypt Document dialog box, in the Password box, delete the encrypted password, and then click OK.
4. Save the presentation.