Is this a trick played by some malicious software?

[pondering_mind]

Hi,

Applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel keep asking me permission for accessing the network. Could this be a trick of some malicious software which hiding behind these applications is trying to access the network? What do you think i should be doing in such case?

Pondering Mind.

 

[Byteman]

My Excel used to do that also, but there was NO malware on my system. I had my firewall block it at the time, and chalked it up to Excel wanting to check for updates of some kind. I no longer use a software firewall, and so I don't get firewall dialog boxes popping up anymore. You could run the virus scans in the sticky, just to be sure tho...