Macros can be plced in Normal.DOT (the default template used for new documents) but there's a risk that overwriting that on users' machines may destroy and macros or styles they've defined.
If you are concerned about the security of your computer, you must scan encrypted macros before opening a Word document. If you want to do that, you need to enable this setting in the Local Group ...
A reader who wishes to remain anonymous has acquired a Word cootie and is at a loss as how to deal with it. Anonymous Person writes: My copy of Microsoft Office 2004 seems to have picked up a virus, ...