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Is it really impossible to break workbook protection?
Hi, I process personal data and need strict protection (GDPR). My raw data from a survey is copied to several worksheets in a workbook and the processed anonymous data (dashboards) is in other works...
Yes, Excel protection is mainly the protection from the errors due to negligence. Simplest case, if you hide Sheet1 and protect structure, anyone could write in Sheet2 formulas like =Sheet1!A1 and pick-up information from hided sheet in protected structure. To find actual name of the Sheet1 is also not a big deal.
Excellent explanation—Excel’s workbook and sheet protection are mostly finesse-level barriers, not ironclad security. As you pointed out, hiding sheets or locking structure doesn’t stop users from referencing hidden data via formulas like =Sheet1!A1
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