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Excel: Remove Excel Password
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' src: http://www.mcgimpsey.com/excel/removepwords.html | |
' | |
' Removing Internal XL passwords | |
' | |
' Note: For a discussion of File or VBA Project password protection, see here. | |
' | |
' Internal XL passwords are about as useful for security as tissue paper. The | |
' reason is that the passwords you enter (i.e., with Tools/Protect/Protect | |
' Worksheet or /Protect Workbook) are not used directly in protection. Instead | |
' they are hashed (mathematically transformed) into a much less secure code. | |
' Effectively, any password of any length is transformed into a string of 12 | |
' characters, the first 11 of which have one of only two possible values. The | |
' remaining character can have up to 95 possible values, leading to only | |
' | |
' 2^11 * 95 = 194,560 potential passwords. This may seem like a lot, but it | |
' only takes a few seconds for a modern computer to try them all. As a | |
' comparison, a 4-character password containing just the 26 lower case | |
' alphabet characters has 456,976 combinations, and a 3-character password | |
' consisting of lower case, upper case and the digits 0-9 will have 238,328 | |
' combinations. | |
' | |
' Again, it doesn't matter what your original password is, one of those 194K | |
' strings will unlock your sheet or workbook. | |
' | |
' Bypassing Protection | |
' | |
' In many versions of XL, bypassing protection is as easy as selecting the entire | |
' worksheet, copying it and pasting it to a new worksheet. If you have a lot of | |
' links between sheets, it can be difficult to substitute the new sheet, but you | |
' can see what's going on at least. | |
' | |
' Add-ins and macros | |
' | |
' There have been macros published (mostly derived from one that I first saw | |
' published by Bob McCormick) for years in the newsgroups. There are some add-ins | |
' that will remove passwords - search the Google newsgroup archives to find them. | |
' Einar Ståle Huse has written one of the most popular add-ins - password.xla. | |
' | |
' The AllInternalPasswords Macro | |
' | |
' This macro, for which the true origin is lost in antiquity, will unlock all the | |
' internal passwords in your workbook. It will report which password strings | |
' worked (so that if you have other workbooks by the same author, you can try it | |
' on them), but it will NOT report the original password (it can't - it's never | |
' stored - only the hash is saved in the file). I first saw it in a post by Bob | |
' McCormick. Norman Harker did an outstanding job in modifying it for workbook as | |
' well as worksheet protection. I mostly cleaned it up and made it a bit more | |
' efficient. | |
' | |
' It shouldn't take more than a few seconds (certainly less than a minute) to | |
' find each password if you have a relatively up to date computer. | |
' | |
' Working passwords will be returned in the form | |
' | |
' AAABABBABABX where the first 11 characters will be As or Bs and the X | |
' represents a character from ASCII 32 (" " or space) to ASCII 126 ("~", or | |
' tilde). While the sheet or workbook will automatically be unprotected, the | |
' macro suggests you write this code down, not only for future use, but, | |
' people being creatures of habit, it may work on another sheet/workbook by | |
' the same author. Again, since it's not returning the original password, | |
' it's unlikely to be useful in breaking file or VBA project passwords. | |
' | |
' You can download the workbook allinternalpasswords.xls if you don't want to cut | |
' and paste the macro below. The workbook is hidden, and has an attached toolbar | |
' with a button to start the macro. Activate the workbook you want to unlock and | |
' click the button. The code is unlocked so you may examine and modify it as | |
' needed. | |
' | |
' DISCLAIMER: Please note that breaking password protection MAY violate laws or | |
' regulations in your jurisdiction. In the United States (currently) it is | |
' certainly OK to break password protection on sheets that you developed for your | |
' personal use, or for which you have permission from the author or owner. It's | |
' probably OK if you own the workbook, even if it was written by someone else. | |
' But neither Norman nor I are intellectual property lawyers in ANY jurisdiction, | |
' so, if in doubt, ask the original author, and if you can't ask - don't use it! | |
' | |
Public Sub AllInternalPasswords() | |
' Breaks worksheet and workbook structure passwords. Bob McCormick | |
' probably originator of base code algorithm modified for coverage | |
' of workbook structure / windows passwords and for multiple passwords | |
' | |
' Norman Harker and JE McGimpsey 27-Dec-2002 (Version 1.1) | |
' Modified 2003-Apr-04 by JEM: All msgs to constants, and | |
' eliminate one Exit Sub (Version 1.1.1) | |
' Reveals hashed passwords NOT original passwords | |
Const DBLSPACE As String = vbNewLine & vbNewLine | |
Const AUTHORS As String = DBLSPACE & vbNewLine & _ | |
"Adapted from Bob McCormick base code by" & _ | |
"Norman Harker and JE McGimpsey" | |
Const HEADER As String = "AllInternalPasswords User Message" | |
Const VERSION As String = DBLSPACE & "Version 1.1.1 2003-Apr-04" | |
Const REPBACK As String = DBLSPACE & "Please report failure " & _ | |
"to the microsoft.public.excel.programming newsgroup." | |
Const ALLCLEAR As String = DBLSPACE & "The workbook should " & _ | |
"now be free of all password protection, so make sure you:" & _ | |
DBLSPACE & "SAVE IT NOW!" & DBLSPACE & "and also" & _ | |
DBLSPACE & "BACKUP!, BACKUP!!, BACKUP!!!" & _ | |
DBLSPACE & "Also, remember that the password was " & _ | |
"put there for a reason. Don't stuff up crucial formulas " & _ | |
"or data." & DBLSPACE & "Access and use of some data " & _ | |
"may be an offense. If in doubt, don't." | |
Const MSGNOPWORDS1 As String = "There were no passwords on " & _ | |
"sheets, or workbook structure or windows." & AUTHORS & VERSION | |
Const MSGNOPWORDS2 As String = "There was no protection to " & _ | |
"workbook structure or windows." & DBLSPACE & _ | |
"Proceeding to unprotect sheets." & AUTHORS & VERSION | |
Const MSGTAKETIME As String = "After pressing OK button this " & _ | |
"will take some time." & DBLSPACE & "Amount of time " & _ | |
"depends on how many different passwords, the " & _ | |
"passwords, and your computer's specification." & DBLSPACE & _ | |
"Just be patient! Make me a coffee!" & AUTHORS & VERSION | |
Const MSGPWORDFOUND1 As String = "You had a Worksheet " & _ | |
"Structure or Windows Password set." & DBLSPACE & _ | |
"The password found was: " & DBLSPACE & "$$" & DBLSPACE & _ | |
"Note it down for potential future use in other workbooks by " & _ | |
"the same person who set this password." & DBLSPACE & _ | |
"Now to check and clear other passwords." & AUTHORS & VERSION | |
Const MSGPWORDFOUND2 As String = "You had a Worksheet " & _ | |
"password set." & DBLSPACE & "The password found was: " & _ | |
DBLSPACE & "$$" & DBLSPACE & "Note it down for potential " & _ | |
"future use in other workbooks by same person who " & _ | |
"set this password." & DBLSPACE & "Now to check and clear " & _ | |
"other passwords." & AUTHORS & VERSION | |
Const MSGONLYONE As String = "Only structure / windows " & _ | |
"protected with the password that was just found." & _ | |
ALLCLEAR & AUTHORS & VERSION & REPBACK | |
Dim w1 As Worksheet, w2 As Worksheet | |
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer, l As Integer | |
Dim m As Integer, n As Integer, i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer | |
Dim i3 As Integer, i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer | |
Dim PWord1 As String | |
Dim ShTag As Boolean, WinTag As Boolean | |
Application.ScreenUpdating = False | |
With ActiveWorkbook | |
WinTag = .ProtectStructure Or .ProtectWindows | |
End With | |
ShTag = False | |
For Each w1 In Worksheets | |
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents | |
Next w1 | |
If Not ShTag And Not WinTag Then | |
MsgBox MSGNOPWORDS1, vbInformation, HEADER | |
Exit Sub | |
End If | |
MsgBox MSGTAKETIME, vbInformation, HEADER | |
If Not WinTag Then | |
MsgBox MSGNOPWORDS2, vbInformation, HEADER | |
Else | |
On Error Resume Next | |
Do 'dummy do loop | |
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66 | |
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66 | |
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66 | |
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126 | |
With ActiveWorkbook | |
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _ | |
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _ | |
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n) | |
If .ProtectStructure = False And _ | |
.ProtectWindows = False Then | |
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _ | |
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _ | |
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n) | |
MsgBox Application.Substitute(MSGPWORDFOUND1, _ | |
"$$", PWord1), vbInformation, HEADER | |
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts | |
End If | |
End With | |
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next | |
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next | |
Loop Until True | |
On Error GoTo 0 | |
End If | |
If WinTag And Not ShTag Then | |
MsgBox MSGONLYONE, vbInformation, HEADER | |
Exit Sub | |
End If | |
On Error Resume Next | |
For Each w1 In Worksheets | |
'Attempt clearance with PWord1 | |
w1.Unprotect PWord1 | |
Next w1 | |
On Error GoTo 0 | |
ShTag = False | |
For Each w1 In Worksheets | |
'Checks for all clear ShTag triggered to 1 if not. | |
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents | |
Next w1 | |
If ShTag Then | |
For Each w1 In Worksheets | |
With w1 | |
If .ProtectContents Then | |
On Error Resume Next | |
Do 'Dummy do loop | |
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66 | |
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66 | |
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66 | |
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126 | |
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _ | |
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _ | |
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n) | |
If Not .ProtectContents Then | |
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _ | |
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _ | |
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n) | |
MsgBox Application.Substitute(MSGPWORDFOUND2, _ | |
"$$", PWord1), vbInformation, HEADER | |
'leverage finding Pword by trying on other sheets | |
For Each w2 In Worksheets | |
w2.Unprotect PWord1 | |
Next w2 | |
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts | |
End If | |
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next | |
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next | |
Loop Until True | |
On Error GoTo 0 | |
End If | |
End With | |
Next w1 | |
End If | |
MsgBox ALLCLEAR & AUTHORS & VERSION & REPBACK, vbInformation, HEADER | |
End Sub |
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