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    Update Your File Unzipper Program (7-Zip) Right Away to Stay Safe
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    Important
    2 min read

    Update Your File Unzipper Program (7-Zip) Right Away to Stay Safe

    A popular free program that opens ZIP files has a security flaw. Attackers could use fake ZIP files to install malware on your computer.

    Source

    BleepingComputer

    Original headline: Update now: 7-Zip fixes RCE flaw exploitable with malicious archives

    Plain-English summary by GetCyberRight. Read the full report at the source above.

    Published Saturday, July 18, 2026Updated Sunday, July 19, 20262 min read
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    A popular free program called 7-Zip, which many people use to open compressed or zipped files, just fixed a serious security problem. The flaw could allow criminals to run harmful software on your computer if you opened a specially designed ZIP file that someone sent you. The company released version 26.02 to fix this problem. This affects anyone who uses 7-Zip to open compressed files on their Windows computer. If you download ZIP files from email attachments, websites, or file sharing services and use 7-Zip to open them, you are at risk. The danger is that a criminal could send you what looks like a normal ZIP file, but opening it could install malware that steals your information or damages your computer.

    If you use 7-Zip, you need to update it immediately.

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    Here is what to do:

    1. Open 7-Zip on your computer.
    2. Click on Help, then About to see your current version number.
    3. If it shows anything older than 26.02, go to the official 7-Zip website at 7-zip.org.
    4. Download and install version 26.02 or newer.
    5. Until you update, avoid opening ZIP files from people you do not know or were not expecting. Going forward, be cautious about opening any compressed files from unknown sources. Even with the update installed, criminals constantly find new ways to trick people. Only open ZIP files when you trust the sender and were expecting to receive them. If you receive an unexpected ZIP file, even from someone you know, contact them another way to confirm they actually sent it. Their email account might have been hacked.

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    Curated from trusted cybersecurity sources by GetCyberRight

    Source: BleepingComputer

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