diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
index fe7f1fe8b..496ca811a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/edit.rs
@@ -676,7 +676,7 @@ fn copy_impl(s: &mut Session, p: &Json, cut: bool) -> Result<Json> {
     // The HTML rendering is for the host clipboard (UI); it can reach 4 MB, so agents and
     // scripts get it only when they ask for it.
     let html = if p.get("html").and_then(Json::as_bool) == Some(true) { crate::io::range_html(&wb, sheet, range, &text) } else { None };
-    let clip = Clipboard { wb, sheet, range, cut, doc_uid: d.uid, text: text.clone(), areas, selected };
+    let clip = Clipboard { wb, sheet, range, cut, doc_uid: d.uid, text: text.clone(), areas, selected, trust: d.trust };
     s.clipboard = Some(clip);
     let mut result = json!({"range": range.a1(), "text": text});
     if let Some(html) = html {
@@ -1183,6 +1183,12 @@ fn paste_special(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
         *cx.sel = crate::Selection { active: at, anchor: at, ranges: vec![RangeRef::new(at, end)] };
         Ok(())
     })?;
+    // Formulas, formats (conditional formats hold formulas) and validation from an untrusted file
+    // leave the destination untrusted; plain values, column widths and notes carry nothing active.
+    if !same_doc && !matches!(what, What::Values | What::ValuesAndNumberFormats | What::ColumnWidths | What::Comments) {
+        let d = s.doc_mut()?;
+        d.trust = d.trust.receive(clip.trust);
+    }
     if cut_move {
         s.clipboard = None;
     }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/extra.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/extra.rs
index 01e2ac6e6..6d6516f50 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/extra.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/extra.rs
@@ -782,6 +782,7 @@ fn new_window(s: &mut Session, _: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
     let d = s.doc()?.clone();
     let mut copy = crate::DocState::new((*d.wb).clone(), d.path.clone(), format!("{}:2", d.display_title()));
     copy.selection = d.selection.clone();
+    copy.trust = d.trust;
     let i = s.add_document(copy);
     Ok(json!({"index": i}))
 }
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
index 9ddc05611..b4dec84c1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/file.rs
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ fn open(s: &mut Session, p: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
     if crate::io::FileKind::from_path(&name).is_none() && gridcraft_xlsx::sniff(&bytes) == gridcraft_xlsx::Format::Xlsx {
         doc.content_kind = Some(crate::io::FileKind::Xlsx);
     }
+    // Someone else may have made the file: its active content asks before it runs.
+    doc.trust = crate::Trust::FromFile;
     let i = s.add_document(doc);
     // The decrypted-workbook notice is for the info bar, not a message box.
     let shown: Vec<&str> = warnings.iter().map(String::as_str).filter(|w| *w != crate::io::DECRYPTED_NOTICE).collect();
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/inspect.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/inspect.rs
index 366d8e6e6..de65ac206 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/inspect.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/inspect.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use super::*;
 
 pub fn specs() -> Vec<CommandSpec> {
     vec![
-        cmd!(query "document.inspect", "Inspect Workbook", [], None, "{} → sheets, selection, names, tables, charts, dirty, history", has_doc, inspect),
+        cmd!(query "document.inspect", "Inspect Workbook", [], None, "{} → sheets, selection, names, tables, charts, dirty, trust (local|fromFile), history", has_doc, inspect),
         cmd!(query "sheet.read", "Read Range", [], None, "{range?: \"A1:D10\" (default: used range), sheet?, formulas?: bool, formatted?: bool} → rows of values", has_doc, read),
         cmd!(query "cell.get", "Get Cell", [], None, "{cell?, sheet?} → value, formula, display text, style, comment, link", has_doc, cell_get),
         cmd!(query "selection.stats", "Selection Statistics", [], None, "{} → count, sum, average, min, max", has_doc, sel_stats),
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ fn inspect(s: &mut Session, _: &Json) -> Result<Json> {
         "title": d.display_title(),
         "path": d.path,
         "dirty": d.is_dirty(),
+        "trust": d.trust,
         "activeSheet": wb.active_sheet,
         "sheets": sheets,
         "selection": d.selection.a1(),
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
index 03e710a45..b57c474a1 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/lib.rs
@@ -112,6 +112,33 @@ pub struct Clipboard {
     /// A multi-area copy: the areas as selected (for the marquee). `wb` then holds them slid
     /// together into one block at `range`. Empty for a single-range copy.
     pub areas: Vec<RangeRef>,
+    /// Trust of the source document: pasting content from a file someone else made carries it.
+    pub trust: Trust,
+}
+
+/// Whether a document's active content (macros) may run without asking the person first.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
+pub enum Trust {
+    /// Made in this session: a new workbook or a sample.
+    #[default]
+    Local,
+    /// Opened from a file, or holding content pasted from one: active content asks before it
+    /// runs.
+    FromFile,
+}
+
+impl Trust {
+    /// Whether active content may run without asking.
+    pub fn allows_code(self) -> bool {
+        self == Trust::Local
+    }
+
+    /// The trust of a document after it receives content from a document with trust `source`:
+    /// content from an untrusted file leaves the receiver untrusted.
+    pub fn receive(self, source: Trust) -> Trust {
+        if source == Trust::FromFile { Trust::FromFile } else { self }
+    }
 }
 
 /// In-cell edit mode as shown in the status bar.
@@ -143,6 +170,8 @@ pub struct DocState {
     /// The format `path`'s content was recognised as when its extension doesn't name one (an
     /// XLSX called `budget.dat`): Save writes it back in that format.
     pub content_kind: Option<io::FileKind>,
+    /// Whether the workbook's active content may run without asking.
+    pub trust: Trust,
 }
 
 static NEXT_UID: std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64 = std::sync::atomic::AtomicU64::new(1);
@@ -168,6 +197,7 @@ impl DocState {
             sheet_selections: vec![],
             unlocked_ranges: vec![],
             content_kind: None,
+            trust: Trust::Local,
         }
     }
     pub fn is_dirty(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/tests/seams.rs b/crates/engine/src/tests/seams.rs
index 005d700a6..55c35d76c 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/tests/seams.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/tests/seams.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 use serde_json::json;
 
 use super::{s, v};
-use crate::{EngineError, Session};
+use crate::{EngineError, Session, Trust};
 
 fn undo_labels(s: &Session) -> Vec<String> {
     s.doc().unwrap().undo.iter().map(|e| e.label.clone()).collect()
@@ -293,3 +293,68 @@ fn record_actions_is_unchanged_by_the_buffer() {
     assert_eq!(r["steps"], 1);
     assert!(s.recorder.is_none());
 }
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------- trust
+
+fn open_json(s: &mut Session, wb: &gridcraft_model::Workbook) {
+    let bytes = serde_json::to_vec(wb).unwrap();
+    s.execute("file.open", json!({"name": "theirs.json", "base64": crate::io::base64_encode(&bytes)})).unwrap();
+}
+
+fn trust(s: &Session) -> Trust {
+    s.doc().unwrap().trust
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn documents_know_where_they_came_from() {
+    let mut s = s();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::Local);
+    assert!(Trust::Local.allows_code() && !Trust::FromFile.allows_code());
+    s.execute("file.new", json!({"sample": "sales"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::Local);
+    assert_eq!(s.execute("document.inspect", json!({})).unwrap()["trust"], "local");
+    open_json(&mut s, &gridcraft_model::Workbook::new());
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile);
+    assert_eq!(s.execute("document.inspect", json!({})).unwrap()["trust"], "fromFile");
+    // A second window on the same workbook is the same workbook.
+    s.execute("view.newWindow", json!({})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile);
+    // Moving and copying sheets inside it changes nothing.
+    s.execute("sheet.move", json!({"to": 0, "copy": true})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn pasting_from_a_file_carries_its_trust() {
+    let mut s = s(); // document 0: Local
+    open_json(&mut s, &gridcraft_model::Workbook::new()); // document 1: FromFile
+    let theirs = s.active_index();
+    set(&mut s, "A1", "=1+1");
+    s.execute("edit.copy", json!({"range": "A1"})).unwrap();
+    s.new_workbook();
+    let mine = s.active_index();
+    // Values carry nothing that runs.
+    s.execute("edit.pasteSpecial", json!({"what": "values", "at": "B1"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::Local);
+    s.execute("edit.paste", json!({"at": "C1"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile);
+    assert_eq!(v(&s, "C1").display(), "2");
+
+    // Pasting within a workbook changes nothing, and content from a local workbook leaves the
+    // destination as it was.
+    s.set_active(theirs);
+    s.execute("edit.paste", json!({"at": "A3"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile, "pasting within a workbook");
+    s.new_workbook();
+    set(&mut s, "A1", "=3");
+    s.execute("edit.copy", json!({"range": "A1"})).unwrap();
+    s.set_active(mine);
+    s.execute("edit.paste", json!({"at": "D1"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::FromFile, "still untrusted from the earlier paste");
+    s.new_workbook();
+    s.execute("edit.paste", json!({"at": "D1"})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(trust(&s), Trust::Local);
+    assert_eq!(Trust::Local.receive(Trust::FromFile), Trust::FromFile);
+    assert_eq!(Trust::FromFile.receive(Trust::Local), Trust::FromFile);
+    assert_eq!(Trust::Local.receive(Trust::Local), Trust::Local);
+}