7-Zip 26.03

❓ Here are some insights and answers to issues we know of:

1. Has 7-Zip had any known security vulnerabilities?

Answer:
Yes. Notable past vulnerabilities include CVE-2016-2335 and CVE-2016-2334: Buffer overflow and memory corruption issues in archive parsing. These were fixed in version 16.00.
Recommendation: Always use the latest version from the official 7-Zip website.

2. Why is 7-Zip flagged by some antivirus software?

Answer:
7-Zip itself is not malicious. However, its self-extracting (SFX) capabilities can be used by malware authors, leading to false positives by antivirus programs.
Recommendation: Download 7-Zip only from safe download site like updatestar.com or the official site: https://www.7-zip.org
Use services like VirusTotal to scan suspicious files.

3. Why does drag-and-drop extraction fail or behave inconsistently?

Answer:
This often happens due to Windows UAC (User Account Control). Drag-and-drop fails if one app is running as administrator and the other isn't.
Solution: Run both 7-Zip and your file manager with matching privilege levels.

4. Why can't 7-Zip create RAR archives?

Answer:
The RAR format is proprietary, and only licensed tools like WinRAR can create RAR files.
Recommendation: Use 7-Zip’s own .7z format, which offers superior compression and is open-source.

5. Why are some .7z files not opening or showing errors?

Answer:
This may occur due to:

• Corrupt or incomplete downloads
• The archive using features from a newer version of 7-Zip
  Solution: Download the file again and ensure you're using the latest version.

6. Why does Windows not recognize .7z files by default?

Answer:
Windows does not natively support .7z archives. If file associations weren't set during install, you’ll need to assign them manually.
Solution: Go to Tools > Options > System in 7-Zip File Manager to associate .7z, .zip, etc.

7. Can 7-Zip be used for secure file deletion or encryption?

Answer:
7-Zip supports AES-256 encryption for archive contents. However:

• File names are visible unless "Encrypt file names" is selected.
• It does not support secure deletion (data shredding).
  Alternative tools for secure deletion: Eraser, BleachBit

8. Does 7-Zip support multithreaded compression?

Answer:
Yes. 7-Zip supports multithreaded compression using the LZMA2 algorithm in .7z format.
Tip: Choose the "Ultra" or "Maximum" preset in the "Add to Archive" dialog for better compression and multi-core performance.

9. Why does 7-Zip’s interface look outdated?

Answer:
The UI is intentionally minimal to ensure speed and simplicity. It is maintained by a small development team.
Alternative UI: PeaZip offers a modern interface while using 7-Zip’s compression engine under the hood.

10. Is 7-Zip safe and appropriate for enterprise use?

Answer:
Yes. 7-Zip is open-source, widely trusted, and regularly audited by the community. It is widely used in both enterprise and government environments.
Recommendation: Deploy only official builds, and monitor NVD (National Vulnerability Database) for potential updates.