Since it is a case-sensitive scheme, there are over 90 acceptable characters, which translate into the multiple trillions of password text possibilities. Excel allows for up to 255 password characters in its worksheet protection scheme. When unprotecting a protected sheet, the password value is compared to the MD5 hash. Note that “replicated” is not the same as “duplicated”. An MD5 hash has fewer numeric characters than the actual password text, making it unlikely but not impossible to be replicated. When someone password protects a sheet in Excel, they generate a 16-bit 2-byte hash, a technical term for a number generated from a string of text by a function called the MD5 Message Digest Algorithm. Here’s some background on Excel spreadsheet password protection: Take comfort that Microsoft is like any other company, in that virtually any application is hackable. Now unprotect Sheet1 but instead of using the password “test”, use the password “zzyw”. Try this: open a new workbook, go to Sheet1 and protect it with the password “test” (without the quotes, lower case just as you see it here).

If someone really wants to get in, they will get in. In Office applications, a password is like the lock on your home’s front door its primary purpose is to keep your friends out. In its defense, Microsoft has never claimed to have reliable spreadsheet protection.

When people know the facts without scare tactics or hyperbole, they can make the best decisions for themselves when armed with objective, unbiased information.Īs protection platforms go, Microsoft’s products have inherent weaknesses. It’s wise for an Excel user to voice his or her curiosity of spreadsheet protection, or has questions about just how secure a password-protected spreadsheet really is. Information in worksheets can be confidential, needing to remain undisturbed with formulas that must be protected from deletion. Spreadsheet password protection is a topic of major concern for Excel users, rightly so. Tom’s Tutorials For Excel: Spreadsheet Passwords - The Facts About Protection

How to put a password on an excel sheet