Next to Avi and Mp3, .Zip archives are probably the most important files you will encounter on the internet. Zipped archives are groups of files that have been compressed down into a smaller, and easier to mange, single file. A zipped archive is also useful because it allows you to password protect your sensitive files so that no one other than people you allow to , can see them. To open a zipped file, you require software such as
WinZip, which unfortunately is only free for a 45 day trial period, or
Winrar which will prompt you to buy, but you have no obligation to.
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My personal favourite
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After you have the software installed, zipped archives will automatically be associated with the program you downloaded. All you need to do now whenever you encounter .zip is open it with the program, and extract the files inside to a folder which you choose.
Notes:
Zipped folders are notorious for containing viruses. Be careful when downloading.
If the files in a zip folder have a padlock by them, they are password protected.
Zip Files are mainly used for direct downloads (i.e. rapidshare, megaupload), but when used in torrents are most of the time for game installations.
