Microsoft has released a security component that scans and converts Office 2003 documents into the Open XML format. 

The Microsoft Office Isolated Conversion Environment (Moice) was originally scheduled for release on 8 May, but development issues forced a delay.  

Moice acts as a secure filter for Office documents which opens files in a 'sandbox' environment that prevents any exploits infecting a user's system.

The component is primarily intended for use by governments and financial institutions that need to securely update old files in order to migrate to Office 2007 or comply with new document standards.  

Moice is expected to curb the onslaught of Office zero-day exploits that have surfaced over the past months.

Attackers have used about a dozen different Word and Excel flaws in attempts to steal confidential information from corporations. Each attack was highly targeted, sending infected files to a few key employees within a company.

Analysts have predicted that the tool will primarily appeal to institutions which have large amounts of sensitive information.

Individual users might want to stay clear of Moice, however. The secure scanning process will cause a noticeable delay in the time that an application takes to load a document.