Controlled Folder blocking Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Question

I have recently turned on Controlled Folder access but it is now preventing me from saving an excel spreadsheet that I have used for years.

I have an office 365 account so my Windows 10 and Office applications are all fully up to date with latest versions and updates.

When I open my spreadsheet I get the message that it is blocked and I cannot then save it after I have made changes.

Surely Excel is a trusted application?????

Answer 1

CFA is not a trusted application (e.g. whielisting) security system.

Instead, it's purpose is merely to block access to certain folders that ransomware most often attacks when attempting to encrypt and corrupt user files.  This means that any application trying to access these specific folders will also be blocked, regardless of who created the application or how trusted it might be.

So the question you need to ask about those particular Excel files is where they are stored and possibly what other folders or files they might access, since this is what's actually triggering CFA and not Excel or Word itself.

You can choose to allow an application access to specific folders if you trust it, but the opening you are creating is that the application itself is now a pathway into that particular folder, so if it becomes compromised it can be used to attack the files contained in that location.

Rob

Answer 2

I have just opened a word document and I am getting the same blocking problem with Microsoft Word

Answer 3

I have resolved the problem by adding Excel and Word to the list of allowed apps for controlled folder access.

This does not explain why I should need to do this as I would have expected these to be allowed as trsted applications without me having to add them.

Answer 4

Hi JGCrock,

I've noticed that this thread has been idle for a while now. We would like to know the status of the issue. Have you resolved the issue about the Controlled Folder on your Windows 10 computer.

Update us so we can assist you.