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.
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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. |
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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
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Please
note you will need to enter archive password (from padlock icon in
PeaZip context menu) in order to scan encrypted files.
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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
software Wikipedia
page, and online guide pages about how to
protect
files and safety practices for
sharing data.
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: Avast, AVG, Avira, Comodo, ESET, Malwarebytes commercial
antivirus programs (with free versions), ClamWin open
source antivirus, Spybot Search&Destroy
popular antimalware application, VirusTotal 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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