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In May 2023, two security stories raised different risks: .zip domain names could be used in phishing, and reporting said Microsoft cloud services could inspect some password-protected ZIP files when they could recover a password. Neither story establishes current domain activity or current Microsoft policy; both are a reminder to check where a link leads and not to treat an archive password as a guarantee of privacy.
Can .zip domains be used for phishing?
Yes. A .zip domain can host a legitimate site or a deceptive one; the domain ending alone does not establish whether a site is malicious. The risk discussed in 2023 was that a domain name could look like an archive filename, making a link easier to misread or trust.
In a May 12, 2023 post, the SANS Internet Storm Center identified phishing and malware delivery as plausible risks. It also recorded 1,230 names in the .zip zone file at that time. That is a dated count, not a current measure of .zip registrations or malicious activity.
Can I tell the real destination from a URL?
Not reliably by appearance alone. URL syntax and lookalike characters can make a displayed address misleading:
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- The @ sign: In a URL, text before an at sign can be user information; the host that determines the destination follows it. A familiar-looking name before the @ does not necessarily identify the website you are visiting.
- Lookalike punctuation: Unicode U+2215, the division slash, can resemble the ordinary slash used in URLs but is a different character. A visual check may not reveal that difference.
When a link is unexpected, do not rely on a filename-like string or a quick glance at its text. Check the parsed destination using a trusted browser or security tool, and avoid opening it if you cannot establish where it goes. This is general URL-literacy advice, not evidence that every .zip link is dangerous.
Could software turn ZIP-like names into DNS lookups?
The SANS Internet Storm Center raised a possible privacy concern: software might automatically link a string resembling an archive filename, causing a DNS lookup for a matching domain. The post said its author had not observed this behavior at the time. Treat it as a potential side effect, not as a documented, widespread event.
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Could Microsoft scan password-protected ZIP files?
According to Ars Technica’s May 15, 2023 report, malware researchers said Microsoft cloud services could inspect some password-protected ZIP files if a password was available or could be guessed. The report described password candidates taken from email text or filenames, as well as attempts using a password list. Microsoft did not respond to Ars Technica’s inquiry reported in that article.
Hackaday’s May 19 roundup described malware researcher Andrew Brandt sharing password-protected samples through SharePoint and finding that files were flagged. Brandt warned about the effect on research sharing: “The available space to do this just keeps shrinking and it will impact the ability of malware researchers to do their jobs.” This is Brandt’s comment, not a statement from Microsoft.
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These accounts describe reported behavior in 2023. They do not establish how Microsoft services behave today, or prove that every password-protected archive will be opened and scanned.
Does a ZIP password guarantee privacy from cloud scanning?
No. A password is not a privacy guarantee when a service can obtain it from nearby context or successfully guess it. Archive encryption strength also matters:
| Archive protection discussed in the 2023 report | What the report says | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy ZipCrypto | Ars Technica characterized it as trivial to override. | Do not rely on ZipCrypto for sensitive confidentiality. |
| AES-256 encryption in 7z archives | Ars Technica described it as more dependable than ZipCrypto. | Stronger encryption can improve protection, but it does not prove a cloud service cannot inspect an archive if it obtains the password or the file is handled in a context that exposes it. |
Use a strong, unique password and avoid sending it alongside the archive when confidentiality matters. Consider what the receiving or storage service can access. The cited reporting does not support a blanket claim that any archive format defeats cloud scanning.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What other vulnerabilities did the 2023 roundup cover?
The rest of Hackaday’s May 19, 2023 roundup concerned software flaws and mitigations rather than a recommended consumer product:
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- Essential Addons for Elementor: The roundup covered a password-reset flaw. Patchstack described versions 5.4.0 through 5.7.2 as affected and reported that version 5.7.2 contained a fix; because those version statements overlap, administrators should verify the exact fixed release in current vendor guidance before acting. Patchstack’s contemporaneous article described the plugin as affecting over one million sites, a 2023 estimate rather than a current installation count.
- PrestaShop: The
possearchproductsmodule was reported vulnerable to SQL injection. - Windows Secure Boot: The roundup discussed BlackLotus bypass developments and gradual mitigation. It does not establish the current status of a particular Windows system or provide up-to-date mitigation steps.
- Linux IPv6: An issue involving IPv6 routing headers was reported as capable of causing a remote kernel panic.
- vm2: The JavaScript sandbox was reported to have an escape vulnerability.
- Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2: The roundup described a buffer overflow involving the device’s FriendlyName.
These are descriptions of issues covered in 2023, not a present-day exposure list. For any affected software or device, check the vendor’s current advisory and supported-version guidance; the roundup does not establish which systems remain vulnerable or which fixes are currently available.
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