Actual risk of automated updates of links

[Liam502]

Hello,

My work involves a lot of repetitive copying from one spreadsheet into another. I want to remove some of the tedium from this process by linking the spreadsheets using formulas, so that I wouldn't even need to open the other spreadsheets to get their information.

I understand that the automatic update of links is "not recommended" by excel, as it can be a security concern if the spreadsheet is linked to a malicious website. However, we make all the spreadsheets ourselves, and they do not contain and links to websites, they are simple spreadsheets containing numerical and text data.

So, would it be safe for us to enable the automatic update of links?

Thanks 

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@Liam502 

Enabling automatic updates of links in Excel can be safe in your case since you create all the spreadsheets yourself and they do not contain any links to external websites. However, it's important to be aware of the potential risks and take necessary precautions.

Here are a few considerations:

1. Ensure the integrity of the linked spreadsheets: Make sure that the spreadsheets you are linking to are trustworthy and have not been tampered with. Keep them protected from unauthorized access and modifications.
2. Validate the data in the linked spreadsheets: Verify the accuracy and reliability of the data in the linked spreadsheets before relying on it. Any changes made to the linked spreadsheets will automatically update in your current spreadsheet, so it's important to ensure the data is correct.
3. Regularly review and update the links: Keep track of the linked spreadsheets and periodically review and update the links to ensure they are still valid. If any linked spreadsheet is deleted or moved, it can cause errors in your current spreadsheet.
4. Use antivirus software: Even though you create the spreadsheets yourself, it's still a good practice to have reliable antivirus software installed and regularly scan your computer for any potential threats.

By being cautious and following these guidelines, you can minimize the risks associated with automatic updates of links and safely benefit from the automation and efficiency they provide in your work processes. The texts, steps and functions were created with the help of AI for reasons of time.

Hope this will help you.

[#3]

Thanks