: Instead of opening it, right-click the file and select "Extract All..." .
Before opening any unknown ZIP file, follow these safety steps:
: If you want to see what is inside without downloading or extracting it to your system, tools like Tiiny Host allow you to preview ZIP contents in a browser. How to Safely Extract the File
: Select a specific folder where the files should be placed. This ensures you can easily find and manage them after they are uncompressed.
: Right-click the file and use your resident antivirus, like Windows Defender , to check for threats.
: Ensure Windows is set to "Show file extensions" to see the true nature of the files inside the archive.
Forensically Analyzing ZIP & Compressed Files | by Josh Lemon