How to eliminate the security warning at the startup of a ms-access project

Question

While opening any MS Access database, a security warning appears saying that the file can be harmful to the computer. However, is there a way to remove this message. Or should it remain a necessary evil

Answer 1

If you lower the security settings in your Access options it will go away I believe. Of course those settings are set where they are for a reason.

Answer 2

You can probably sign your program. I don't know for sure. Read this article and see if the same principle applies.

Answer 3

Here are some more notes on certification and security.

Certification, including self-certification: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access/HP010397921033.aspx

General information on security principals for Office code and macro security: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/CH011480831033.aspx

Trusted location defaults for Office 2003 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011403181033.aspx?pid=CH011480851033

Macro security in Office 2003 http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011403071033.aspx?pid=CH011480831033

Answer 4

Here's my notes from a similar, internal issue with Access 2003 a few years back:

Okay, so here's (evidently) the deal.

• The network server was not in the Trusted Zone. Starting, IIRC, with SP2, this causes a Open/Save/Warning box when opening a file. By default, UNC paths are supposed to be in the Trusted Zone. I'm not sure why it wasn't, but here's the fix: Add server.dns and server to Internet Options->Security Zones->Local Intranet.
• Unsafe Expressions Are Not Blocked. This is some ridiculously overcomplicated Access security model (Google for unsafe expressions and Access Sandbox Mode for more). Basically, Access (starting with 2003 and/or Jet 4.0 SP8, I think) warns you if a registry key is not set to disallow "unsafe expressions". The fix: Set HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Jet\4.0\Engines\SandBoxMode to 3, which blocks "unsafe expressions" for anything using Jet. This has to be done by an Administrator. Alternatively, I think that answering "Yes" to the Block Unsafe Expressions prompt as Administrator sets that key for you.
• This file may not be safe to open. This is an easy one, and follows the whole macro security model in Office. Just set the Tools->Macro->Security (don't look in the Tools->Security menu...that'd be too obvious) to Low.

BTW, I still have no idea what an "unsafe expression" is - nor why it continually asks to upgrade to Jet 4.0 SP8 when it already has been (I verified that it was updated by checking the file versions). But with those changes, it no longer asks anything when starting up. --MB