Zip files
Hola amigos
I cannot open a zip file on my Windows vista.
Must I first purchase software for opening zip files?
The file is WinZip I think. It is a large software tool.
I have read on internet that zip files and or WinZip corrupt the PC.
Can anyone advise me please?
Saludos cordiales
Tomás

File unzipping software is needed to unzip zipped files. WinZip is by far the most popular program for that purpose. It is a safe program that I have used for years. It won't damage your computer so long as it is obtained directly the WinZip website.

There are legitimate security issues related to zip files and programs that unzip them. A license fee must be paid to continue using WinZip beyond a trial period. Hackers sometimes add malicious code to the WinZip program and then offer downloads of hacked versions that don't require license fee payment. Not only is that illegal, but there is considerable risk of computer infection. I don't advise using WinZip programs obtained anywhere other than from the WinZip website because of those considerations.

Free unzipping programs created by other parties are available. Some of them probably are safe to use, but several have been found to contain malicious code in the past, so it probably is best to not use them.

Beyond the unzipping programs themselves, there is risk that zipped files can contain malicious code. Because of that, it can be risky to unzip files obtained from questionable sources. However, most of the major internet security programs, such as Kaspersky, transparently "peak inside" zipped files as they are being downloaded or copied from a disk and warn if they see anything suspicious. Use of good internet security software along with reasonable care not to download files from questionable sources eliminates most of the risk.

There are other protections. For example, I have installed software that automatically checks zipped files uploaded here to the forum before they are made publicly available to members. That isn't generally done by most websites, but it is done by many large corporate sites where companies do not want their reputations tarnished by having distributed infected files.

There generally is little risk downloading and using zipped files obtained from government sites, large company sites, professional organization sites, and the like. However, zipped files obtained from hacker sites, sites offering free software, illegal products, etc. can be very risky.

-Bob