Strange outgoing packet to Verisign when I launch Office apps

[Ken Mark]

Recently, something has changed on my Windows system, and
I don't know why. When I launch an Office app or open an
Office file from the desktop, my firewall (Kerio personal)
informs me that the app is trying to connect to a Verisign
server. Today, the Kerio message no longer
included "Verisign" in the message. It just
said, "'Microsoft PowerPoint' from your computer wants to
connect to 10.0.0.2, port 80". Why would an Office app
need to connect to any remote server just because I am
launching it? Has Verisign or Microsoft somehow planted a
process on my PC that is doing this to keep track of my
application usage or something else? I have been denying
these connection requests. I sure would like to know what
is going on here...

 

[Werner P]

Today some verisign-certificates are expired....
maybe this has to to with this...
maybe the "Office app open slow" problem with NAV has to
do with this too ? cerficicates are everywhere

 

[Eric Lawrence [MSFT]]

Most likely, it's going to check the certificate revocation of digital
signatures used by an add in or Macro that you've installed. You might be
able to watch what's going on using a proxy (see www.bayden.com/fiddler or
use Microsoft NetMon)

--
Thanks,

Eric Lawrence
Program Manager
Assistance and Worldwide Services

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

[Echo S]

Probably related to NAV's Verisign certificate expiring...

http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2003081411062739
from Symantec suggests turning off certificates in IE.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q320365
describes how to disable the Office plug-in (which you should do anyway,
as far as I'm concerned). It's a PPT kb article, but the instructions
for disabling the plug-in are good.