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Scan files in archives with antivirus






Scan files in archives with antivirus


Detect malware, analyze ZIP, RAR files, inspect installers, dll, executables and documents
How to scan compressed files to detect virus and malware

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Scan archives file contents with antivirus / antimalware software in order to detect packed / zipped malware and resolve possible security issues before actual archive content extraction takes place, is a common best practice when unpacking compressed files from sources that cannot be trusted without a minimum degree of verification - or if the archive file has been exposed to potential threats in the process in example downloaded through an untrusted connection, or stored on a server whose reliability cannot be verified, received by mail as attachment.


Scan files inside archives from PeaZip


PeaZip meets this security requirement integrating antivirus / antimalware scan option both from the filesystem (scan uncompressed files or entire archive files before browsing them) and for files inside archives, allowing to scan selected compressed (zip, 7z, rar, or in any other read supported format) files before extraction with anti-virus and anti-malware software.

scan compressed files for virus

This feature is especially useful when dealing with encrypted archives, as live scan of resident antivirus cannot verify the content of the archive until the password is provided and the un-zipped content is accessible for inspection in unencrypted form - making the archive manager application the first line of defense for detecting those incoming threats.

detect virus in rar files

Inspecting untrusted compressed & encrypted files, running the analisys before make use of the content, can severely reduce chances of PUP / PUA, virus, malware, or other unwanted, harmful software (keyloggers, sypware, adware, ransomware...), to enter the system.

Scan installers and container files for viruses
Moreover, PeaZip can open as archives (and inspect for malware) most executable, installers, and resource file types (.exe, .msi, .dll, .sys), CAB, Java JAR, Flash SWF / FLV, and most document types like OpenDocuments ODF files, and both classic MS Office formats (.doc, .xls, .pps, .ppt) and new Office Open XML formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx), allowing browsing and in-depth security scanning of embedded resources to help finding possible source of infection inside container files.


Scan files inside encrypted archives

scan zip files

Please note you will need to enter archive password (from padlock icon in PeaZip context menu) in order to scan encrypted files.

detect virus in zip files


Security recommendations

As role of thumb, anyway, before any other action you are adviced to:
  • trust only downloads and attachments from secure, reputable, trusted (and verifiable) sources
  • verify that the data matches known hash values in order, to guarantee the intended content was actually downloaded, and that no data corruption or forgery happened neither on the data storage server, neither during the transmission process

Read more on antivirus softwaredetect malicious files inside rar zip file Wikipedia page, and online guide pages about how to protect files and safety practices for sharing data.



Anti-virus and anti-malware software for in-archive scan


How to scan archives for viruses from PeaZip
PeaZip's "Open with" menu, auto configure itself to show option to analyze archive files (or analyze compressed files inside archives) with detected antivirus / antimalware software. The menu is also available from Run with buttom in File Tools tool bar.
This funtion is available also inside archives, as "Extract and open with" and alternatively as "Preview with" which keeps the output in a temporary work folder PeaZip will take care to clean up.
This allows to inspect content of archives which the antivirus software itslef is not able to access, either because encrypted or because compressed in a format the antivirus software does not support.


Configure anti virus scanners in PeaZip

Following security programs are supported as scanners - which means the application is automatically detected and properly configured by PeaZip without requiring user manually configuring the scan, which anyway is always possible if desired *:
  • Avast

  • AVG Anti-Virus Free

  • Avira AntiVir Personal

  • ClamWin (Open Source antivirus)

  • Comodo Cleaning Essentials

  • ESET Smart Security, and ESET NOD32 Antivirus

  • Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (MBAM)

  • Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Microsoft Windows Defender

  • Spybot Search & Destroy

  • VirusTotal Uploader


* Organize > Applications (Alt+9) allows to integrate / remove / modify custom applications in "Open with menu", scripting the options to be passed to the executable program (or batch script).
This menu can obviously be used, alongside for security purpose, for setting up custom favourite most used software to open selected files, in example Notepad, most common browsers, media players and image viewers are auto-configured by PeaZip, and can be customized by end users.


Useful online resources: Avastdetect malicious files inside rar zip file, AVGdetect malicious files inside rar zip file, Aviradetect malicious files inside rar zip file, Comododetect malicious files inside rar zip file, ESETdetect malicious files inside rar zip file, Malwarebytesdetect malicious files inside rar zip file commercial antivirus programs (with free versions), ClamWindetect malicious files inside rar zip file open source antivirus, Spybot Search&Destroydetect malicious files inside rar zip file popular antimalware application, VirusTotaldetect malicious files inside rar zip file online meta-scanner employing multiple anti-malware and anti-virus detection engines.

Synopsis: How to scan for virus compressed files. Search for threats inside archives before extraction. Detect malware in archive files. Analyze ZIP, RAR files for menaces. Inspect content of installers, dll, executables and documents with Avast, AVG Anti-Virus Free, Avira AntiVir Personal, ClamWin, Comodo Cleaning Essentials, ESET Smart Security, and ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (MBAM), Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) and Microsoft Windows Defender, Spybot Search & Destroy, VirusTotal Uploader.

Topics: scan files in archives for viruses, how to scan compressed files with PeaZip

PeaZip > FAQ > Scan files in archives with antivirus

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