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Zipped Files Can Zap Antivirus Apps

Feb 6, 2004 6:04AM PST

Compressed folders can hide worms, viruses, and more, experts warn.

Paul Roberts, IDG News Service
Friday, February 06, 2004

E-mail users who were slow to update their antivirus software last week may have been surprised to receive a flood of e-mail messages containing .zip files from long lost acquaintances, business partners, and complete strangers.

The e-mail was sent by the recent Mydoom e-mail worm. The .zip attachments were evidence of what antivirus experts say is a new trend in virus writing circles: using compressed .zip files to hide viruses and elude detection by antivirus engines.

.Zip files are containers for one or more compressed files. Using programs like WinZip for Windows or Unzip for Unix, users compact files they want to store or transfer to others. The files must then be decompressed--or "unzipped"--before they can be viewed.

Read more: http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,114629,tk,dn020604X,00.asp

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