Urgent Update: If You Use 7-Zip, You Need to Patch It Now!

If you’ve ever downloaded a file from the internet and unzipped it using 7-Zip, this update is for you. A newly discovered security flaw in 7-Zip could put your computer at risk, and since the program doesn’t update itself automatically, you’ll need to take action to stay protected.

What’s the Problem?

7-Zip is a popular tool for opening and extracting files from compressed folders (like .zip and .rar). Windows normally has a built-in security feature called Mark of the Web (MotW) that helps protect you from dangerous files by displaying a warning when you try to open something downloaded from the internet. This feature is supposed to flag files so that Windows knows to be extra cautious.

The issue? A serious flaw (known as CVE-2025-0411) was found in 7-Zip that allows attackers to bypass these warnings. This means that if you extract a malicious file using an outdated version of 7-Zip, Windows may not warn you before you open it—making it easier for hackers to trick you into running harmful programs.

Why Does This Matter?

Cybercriminals love to exploit security holes like this to spread malware, steal personal information, or even take control of your computer. There have already been cases where attackers used similar flaws to trick people into downloading fake versions of legitimate software like iTunes, NVIDIA drivers, and Notion.

If you use 7-Zip and don’t update it, you leave the door open for potential attacks.

What Should You Do?

The good news is that 7-Zip's creator, Igor Pavlov, has already fixed the issue in version 24.09, released on November 30, 2024. But since 7-Zip does not update automatically, you need to manually download and install the latest version yourself.

Here’s how:

1. Go to the official 7-Zip website
2. Download the latest version (24.09 or newer)
3. Install it – Simply run the installer and follow the prompts.
4. Uninstall the old version (optional but recommended). This ensures you’re only using the updated and secure version.

PatchMyPC

I'm a huge fan of the FREE (home use) all-in-one updater PatchMyPC. You can also use it to update 7-Zip. One minor issue with that is if you didn't first install 7-Zip (or any app) using PatchMyPC, it's best to uninstall the app, install it with PatchMyPC, then update it that way in the future to avoid problems.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t update, you’re at risk of opening files that might contain malware without any warning. Since 7-Zip is widely used, it’s crucial to stay up to date. Take a few minutes to download the new version now—it’s free, quick, and could save you from a major security headache later.

Stay safe, and as always, be cautious about the files you download and open!