Microsoft Office users have had the ability to password-protect documents created in Word, Excel and PowerPoint for a number of years now. Although this feature provided some document security, it was thin security, at best.

Microsoft has just released details of a new password rules feature in Office 2010.

The new password feature encrypts passwords and allows password complexity to be set -- the same type of complexity required for logging onto your work computer.

Users can opt to encrypt passwords one of two ways: by going into a document's Backstage View and selecting the "Encrypt with Password" option or using the "Password to open" option, in the General Options setting, initiated by clicking "Save As."

Full story: CRN