A high-severity flaw was recently found where attackers could bypass Windows security warnings (Mark of the Web) by nesting malicious files within archives.

It is usually distributed via spear-phishing emails . The file name is designed to look like a harmless travel itinerary or holiday plan to trick recipients into opening it.

If you have encountered this file or recently downloaded 7-Zip from an unofficial source, take these steps:

There has also been a rise in fake websites, such as 7zip.com (note the .com instead of the official .org ), which distribute installers that look legitimate but silently turn PCs into proxy nodes. How to Protect Your Device

Use reputable tools like Malwarebytes or Microsoft Defender to run a full system scan.