Can Excel Macros Cause McAfee Virus Protection To Trigger A Dangerous Download Msg

I have been getting automatic messages from McAfee Site Advisor (that a "Potentially Dangerous Download Has Been Detected."

In long discussions with them, they are laying the blame on Microsoft Excel. I told them that it is happening even when Excel is open, but absolutely no macros are running.

They have taken control of my PC and can't find anything. I have scanned my Hard Drive many times and nothing. My Malware program scans everytime the computer is turned on with no problems.

If I was clicking on a link or macro that opened a website, I can understand that this could happen. I can not believe that simply running a macro (no internet) would cause this either.

Hope you guys can understand what I am explaining and asking about.

Straight out, I don't believe this is possible. Does anyone have any ideas or reason that Excel could cause this?

Hello Matt,

I don't know either. Let's backtrack to the point where the problem first appeared.

1. Were there any recent updates to your computer?
2. Do you remember what you changed in your program?
3. Do you have an older copy of the program that you can run and check if problem is still there?
4. Has your computer crashed recently? If so then there may be some corruption in the registry.
5. Have you tried uninstalling McAfee and reinstalling it?

Hi Leith . . .

Good to hear from you. And, I really mean it.

First, let me point out that even if Excel is not loaded, this darn Download Popup occures. I happens probably around 10 to 12 times per day, with or without Excel being loaded. It also happens when only my email is loaded and no new emails have been received. Now, tell me it's Excel. I really doubt it. I've even had Internet Explorer not loaded and only Excel open, doing nothing and it happens. Wierd !

1. There have been no updates to my computer.
2. No idea what I might have changed in my programs. Even if code got corrupted and Excel was not open, how could code be at fault.
3. Yes, I have a copy probably a year or more old. How could I test, when I don't have to be doing anything and it will happen.
4. Once or twice a month or two the computer will crash. I have been told that it is a bad place in memory, so I haven't done anything as I want to upgrade my computer sometime in the future. This crashing has been happening long before this problem started.
5. I think that the registery is checked or has been checked by McAfee or my Malware program. Neither of these two programs have been able to find anything. The more I think, it is the Malware program that checks the registery.
6. McAfee has uninstalled and re-installed several times. McAfee has also taken control of my PC and worked on it for hours and can't find anything.

My wild guess is that it's some kind of virus or whatever that my two programs don't see.

I know that I've given you some sole searching before and you did the job - Many Thanks.
I don't know what you can do under these circumstances.

I wish you the best and God Bless.

Hello Matt,

It is interesting that you said:

I've even had Internet Explorer not loaded and only Excel open, doing nothing and it happens. Wierd !

Internet Explorer has been vulnerable to many types of attacks. One one the most common routes is through a BHO or Browser Helper Object. Many programs and sites can add these on without your knowledge. A good malware program should be checking for these and present you with a list from which you can control which BHO is to loaded. Have you tried using a different browser? If you don't get the message then Internet Explorer is most likely the cause.

Thanks for the input.

I have a browser named EOS which is from FireFox

I was just going to type my next sentence and it popped up again.

I will change to the EOS browser and test it. Sounds like a good idea to me.

I'll keep you informed.

Hello Matt,

Please do. This is quite an interesting problem.