Office 2000, moreover, will generate HTML messages from Word documents, Excel worksheets or Access database output. Melissa, with its basis in the Visual Basic for Applications macro language, is just the beginning. Makers of intelligent client hardware have long been creating new ways to streamline routine tasks. Users like the resulting convenience, whether it takes the form of modems that can dial their own calls or documents with push-button controls for filling in data and routing work to others. In general, however, automation has outpaced the development of important safety features.
Hazards quickly arise when a data stream can give commands rather than merely deliver information.
Smart modems, for example, must have guard logic to prevent confusion when a data stream looks like a control code. Too often, users' only protection is the kindness of strangers. Windows tends to treat all software, and all of the actions it takes, as trusted. Policies on allowable intranet content are necessary but not sufficient. Filters can detect scripts or other active content and can warn of unusual traffic patterns.