1.8.3.1 Ensure 'Hidden Text' is set to Enabled

Information

This policy setting controls whether text that is formatted as hidden displays on Word users' monitor screens. If you enable this policy setting, Word displays hidden text at all times. Hidden text on monitor screens displays as underlined with a dotted line. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, Word does not display text formatted as hidden unless 'Show/Hide #x00B6;' is selected or Word is configured to show hidden text in the 'Display' section of the 'Word Options' dialog. The recommended state for this setting is: Enabled . By default, Word does not display text formatted as hidden unless Show/Hide #x00B6; is selected or Word is configured to show hidden text in the Display section of the Word Options dialog box. If a document that contains hidden text is distributed, any sensitive information in the document could be at risk.

Solution

To implement the recommended configuration state, set the following Group Policy setting to Enabled. User Configuration\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Word 2013\Word Options\Display\Hidden Text Impact: Enabling this setting could create issues for Word users when they format documents that contain hidden text for printing or distribution. Displaying hidden text can change the way a document flows as well as make it difficult to judge the number of pages in a document and where Word will insert automatic page breaks.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/files/556

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-6b.

Plugin: Windows

Control ID: 4452d50a0e79a955d57d353842d5462d576d8cd5c7035c5b0d5f609c64906d06