Definition

A zip bomb is a malicious compressed file developed to cause the system to crash in an attempt to unarchive it. It is normally employed to overwhelm your device’s security mechanisms, causing it to fail to detect real malicious software entering the gadget.

Moreover, it can crash a system completely since unpacking the archive consumes a significant amount of the device’s storage and computing power.

Example of a Zip Bomb

42.zip is the most popular zip bomb, where a file occupies just 42 kilobytes (kb) after being compressed. After unpacking, it bursts into 4.5 petabytes (PB) of data, equivalent to 4,500,000 gigabytes. Since the file is now famous, it is not used for malicious purposes anymore. Current antivirus software detects it immediately, and individuals may download it for their research.

How to Stop Zip Bombs