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On Tue, 15 Feb 2011 03:02:02 +0000, H0W wrote:I downloaded a file that turned out to be a rar file.Someone told me I should never open rar files because they contain viruses.That 'someone' is very much incorrect. A rar file is very much like azip file; it's a condensed file or bunch of condensed files. And justlike a zip file, it might contain a virus, or it might not. And thesame is essentially true of almost every other kind of file: it mightcontain a virus, or it might not.And just like a zip file, it's safe to open it and see what the filesare that it contains.And finally, having opened it, and now having the components filesvisible, you want to be using a good anti-virus program that looks atand checked those component files before running any of them.Is there a safe way to open an rar file using a windows program?Windows has no ability to open rar files. You need a third-partyprogram to do it (here's one: www.win-rar.com). And your safety willcome from your anti-virus program if you try to run a component fileof the rar file.Ken Blake (MS MVP)Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP since October 2003.
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