A free and open-source file archiver is 7-Zip, a utility used to place groups of files within compressed containers known as “archives“. Igor Pavlov has developed it and first released it in 1999. 7-Zip uses its own 7z archive format but can read and write several other archive formats. The program can be used from a command-line interface as the command p7-zip or through a graphical user interface that also features shell integration. Most of the 7-Zip source code is under the GNU LGPL license; the unRAR code, however, is under the GNU LGPL with an “unRAR restriction“, which states that developers are not permitted to use the code to reverse-engineer the RAR compression algorithm. Since 7-Zip 21.01 alpha, it adds preliminary Linux support in the upstream instead of the p7-zip project. but is 7 Zip Safe?
We have seen many people asking, Is 7-Zip Safe? There are many such questions that people ask when they see a program named 7-Zip installed on their Home or Office Computer. Without wasting more time, Let’s get into what exactly the 7-Zip Application is and what it does.
The name kinda looks spammy or tricky and many people mark it as a virus. But, If you scan it with an Antivirus tool such as Avast, You can’t find any suspicious files. There are possibilities that if you are downloading the 7-Zip software on your computer from an untrusted source, It might contain some virus or Spyware, you need to differentiate between a real 7-Zip File compression program and a Virus.
Table of Contents
What is a File Compression Program?
File compression is used to lessen the file size of 1 or more documents. When a file or a collection of files is compressed, the resulting “archive” frequently takes up 50% to 90% less disk space than the original file(s). Common varieties of file compression consist of zipping, Gzip, RAR, StuffIt, and 7z compression. Each type of compression strategy makes use of a unique set of rules to compress the data.
So how does a file compression application compress data? While every compression set of rules is different, they all work similarly. The goal is to remove redundant data in each file by replacing common patterns with smaller variables. For example, words in a plain text document might get replaced with numbers or another type of short identifier. These identifiers then reference the original words that are saved in a key within the compressed file. For instance, the word “computer” may be replaced with the number 5, which takes up much less space than the word “computer.” The more times the word “computer” is found in the text document, the more effective the compression will be.
While file compression works well with text files, binary files can also be compressed. By locating repeated binary patterns, a compression algorithm can significantly reduce the size of binary files, such as applications and disk images. However, once a file is compressed, it must be decompressed to be used. Therefore, if you download or receive a compressed file, you will need to use a file decompression program, such as WinZip or StuffIt Expander, to decompress the file before you can view the original contents.
Is 7 Zip Safe and Can It Be Trusted?
One notable benefit that 7-Zip has over other similar programs like Winrar is that the .7z file extension is a lot more secure. And no email providers can open it easily. This, however, is a different case with RAR or ZIP.
Since the majority of email providers today snoop into RAR, ZIP, and other compression formats, if ever there are executable files compressed in it, it can’t be sent through email. In this case, users will need to send a separate .exe file.
However, since the 7z file extension is lesser-known and less popular, it makes users question its integrity, security, and safety. But in reality, there have been hundreds of thousands of people who are already using 7-Zip. Several Redditors will back it up and other forum sites too.
Why Trust 7 Zip?
There are lots of speculations and questions that people have. One of these questions still points to the earlier question, is 7-Zip safe? As mentioned earlier, 7 Zip is safe. On top of that, what sets it apart from the competition is its smooth and basic-looking interface. Nothing to brag about or the need to be showy. It is straightforward to understand. It’s intentionally designed to list the files and provide a set of menus and useful toolbars.
Some Other Benefits Include:
- No welcome dialog boxes
- No fancy installation wizards
- Never had any pop-ups or ads
- No annoying interruptions
- 25% higher compression ratio
- Has Linux-based OS support
If you like something more than the simple user interface, just press F9. The 7z will transform into a dual-pane file manager.
How to Identify a 7 Zip Virus?
There are possibilities that hackers or spammers might name their file as “7-zip” and it might contain viruses, Spyware, Malware, Ransomware, etc. To avoid installing a wrong 7-zip file or a virus 7-zip file, always download it from the official website of 7-Zip. Similarly, you can also try downloading it from trusted software download websites like CNET or Sourceforge
You can use any Antivirus Software such as Avast to scan the files of the 7-Zip program to check for any suspicious or malicious files.
There are also possibilities that the archived files you decompress using 7-Zip might contain a virus, Always ensure, you are downloading archived files from a trusted source, Friend, or family.
How to Use 7 Zip?
From compression, opening, and splitting files, it’s straightforward with 7z. Files can be verified effortlessly on your PC. The file compression procedure is extremely easy. In fact, there are a couple of ways to do it.
You may use the software using the graphical user interface and the command line. To use the software through the GUI, please refer to the steps below:
Method 1:
Step 1 – Select the files that you want to extract.
Step 2 – Click the right-click mouse button. This will open a new menu.
Step 3 – Hover over the “7-Zip” option.
Method 2:
Step 1 – Right-click any 7-Zip or RAR files and then choose “Open Archive”.
Step 2 – This opens a new window. On the 7-Zip File Manager, you have to click “Extract”.
Step 3 – After clicking the “Extract” button, another 7-Zip window will pop up. This asks you which directory you want to save your file.
Step 4 – Wait for the program to complete the unzip/unrar process and you’re through! Congratulations!
How to Uninstall 7-Zip?
If you still have doubts or don’t want a 7-zip file compression program on your computer, you can uninstall it. However, we recommend you keep and use it as it is a legit tool and can save your time and space by compressing files efficiently.
Below are the steps to follow to uninstall 7-Zip on Windows
- Go to the Windows start menu and type “Control Panel”, and click on the first program.
- Look for the “Programs and Features” option and click on it.
- scroll down through the list to locate the 7-zip Program to select it.
- Click on the newly appeared “Uninstall” button at the top of the Apps list.
- Follow the uninstallation wizard to successfully uninstall 7-Zip on your Windows computer.
- Finally, Exit the Control Panel window and reboot your computer to apply the changes.
When to Use 7 Zip?
One reason to use 7-Zip is that it’s a free open-source program that runs on any computer. You don’t have to register 7-Zip to use it and the app integrates with the Windows shell, thanks to its creator Igor Pavlov. That means when you right-click a zip file, you’ll see a menu option that enables you to unzip the file using 7-Zip. You can also use 7-Zip to create compressed zip files that you can share with others or store on your hard drive when you wish to archive information.
The program uses a file format known as 7z that can compress files more efficiently than some other compression utilities. This can help you save on Internet transmission times when you upload and download these files, reduce your data charges, and save you space on your hard drive and other storage devices.
One downside of 7-Zip is that not as many people have it installed as have software to support traditional zip files, which are automatically supported by most modern operating systems. If you send someone a 7Z file, you may have to explain what it is, how to open it, and even verify that it’s not a virus or something else nefarious.
Alternative Compression Methods
You’ll often be more productive if you use a zip program because many apps that you download are in zip format. People may also send you compressed files containing documents, images, and even large databases. Other programs that help you compress and decompress files include WinZip and JZip. You can also extract everything from a compressed folder using Windows File Explorer. To do that select a compressed folder, click “Compressed Folder Tools” and then click “Extract All” When you’d like to zip a file, select it in the Windows File Explorer and click “Zip.”
Other operating systems, including Apple macOS and various Linux distributions, also include built-in support for the traditional Zip format.
Conclusion
7 Zip is a legit and well-known File Compression Software available for Windows. You can compress or decompress any file using 7 Zip and that too without losing the quality of your compressed files.
If you have some issues trusting 7-Zip then you can scan it by using any Antivirus Program or use its alternative i.e. Winrar.