Windows Help (HLP) file format allows macros to be attached to Help files. These macros can be set to run when the Help file first starts and there is no way to prevent this from happening. These macros can contain unwanted actions. The only common example of this made changes to your Windows INI files; but, other actions are possible. One researcher has postulated a possible Help file virus; CKnow feels the possibility of one in the wild is remote at best for various technical reasons. Also, Windows Vista does not directly support the HLP file format. You have to install the older help program yourself to allow them to open and that program for Vista disables the macro commands that could do damage. |
