MalwareTips
Threat LensFile scan report

Is 42.zip safe?

Verdict
Malicious

Classic 42.zip zip-bomb archive flagged by three tier-1 engines and researcher-curated CIRCL entry.

Three tier-1 engines label the file as a zip bomb, and external intelligence confirms it matches the well-known 42.zip sample. Sandbox analysis did not produce a malicious verdict, but the file's age, prevalence, and consistent naming across sources support the malicious classification.

Do not open or extract this archive

Treat the file as malicious and avoid extraction; delete it unless it is intentionally retained for isolated, controlled testing.

Read the full analysis
Saved file evidenceAntivirus consensus
6of 75 flagged
Flagged 6No detection 69
Digital specimen42.zipbbd05de19aa2af1455…817fe24b2c36fa
Size41.8 KB
Code signingNot applicable
SandboxRuntime complete
First seen15y ago
Evidence3 priority signals
6 of 75 antivirus engines flagged the file, including Fortinet and GData.

Recommended next actions

01

Before opening or extracting

Do not open or extract it. Delete this archive from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

02

If you already opened or extracted it

Close it. If it opened links, requested credentials, or triggered unexpected behavior, disconnect from the internet and run a full device scan.

Chapter 02

Intelligence

The saved assessment, checked against the scan evidence and recorded coverage.

MT AI Engine · Verdict analysis

The reasoning behind this verdict

This section explains the evidence supporting the verdict and keeps conflicting or missing signals visible.

85%Confidence
Very high
Analyst conclusion

Three tier-1 engines label the file as a zip bomb, and external intelligence confirms it matches the well-known 42.zip sample. Sandbox analysis did not produce a malicious verdict, but the file's age, prevalence, and consistent naming across sources support the malicious classification.

Where this verdict could be wrong2 caveats
  • behaviour.hasMaliciousSandboxVerdict=false and droppedChildren.hasMaliciousChild=false — sandbox did not classify the sample as malicious.
  • contactedHosts=null — host-reputation cross-check was not completed, so no complete malicious-host result is available.

These are the assessment's weak points. If you believe one applies to your file, report the verdict and we'll re-review it.

Recommended action

Treat the file as malicious and avoid extraction; delete it unless it is intentionally retained for isolated, controlled testing.

Scan transparency

Coverage & freshness

4 of 5 complete

Complete means the check returned a usable result. It does not mean the file is safe.

  • Antivirus

    Complete

    6 of 75 engines flagged the file.

  • Sandbox

    Complete

    1 isolated runtime environment contributed observations.

  • Network

    Partial

    1 runtime contact was observed without a completed reputation cross-check.

  • YARA

    Complete

    1 signature or behavior rule matched.

  • External intel

    Complete

    3 of 3 independent reference sources completed.

Chapter 03

Behavior

Plain-English impact first, then the observed runtime evidence.

Runtime flight recorder

Capture complete
  • 1isolated sandbox run
  • 4MITRE ATT&CK techniques
  • 10spawned processes
  • 1network contacts
  • 18filesystem & mutex artifacts

What this file does

Observed actions and their security significance

  • High concern: Created or modified a system service, which can keep code running.

  • Moderate concern: Communicated over a common application protocol; malware can use this for command-and-control.

  • Note: Collects details about your system.

These are observed capabilities from an isolated analysis. A technique does not prove malicious intent on its own, and the file never ran on your device.

Threat context

How trojans work

A trojan disguises itself as something useful or harmless to trick you into running it. Once open, it does its real job in the background — anything from stealing data to opening a back door or downloading more malware.

Bottom line:The disguise is the whole trick, so a trustworthy-looking name or icon means nothing.

Recorded behavior

Attack story

Runtime observations grouped by analysis stage. Arrows organize the stages; they do not claim chronology or causality.

ObservedDerived

6 recorded facts from one runtime window. Every fact remains independently traceable in Analyst mode.

Chapter 04

Detection & Forensics

Consensus, attribution, signatures, code structure, prevalence, and identity.

Chapter 05

Safety & FAQ

Complete recovery guidance and answers for the next decision.

What to do now

This file is dangerous. Treat it as harmful and remove it.

  1. Recovery step 01

    Don't open or extract this archive. Delete this archive from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash.

  2. Recovery step 02

    If you already opened or extracted it, disconnect from the internet and start with a full antivirus scan or Microsoft Defender Offline scan. If compromise is suspected or the problem persists, use a reputable second-opinion scanner and follow incident-recovery or clean-reinstall guidance.

  3. Recovery step 03

    If you typed any passwords while it was open, change them from a device you trust.

  4. Recovery step 04

    Get a fresh copy from the original trusted source and verify its exact hash when possible.

Safety FAQ

Direct answers grounded in the saved verdict and evidence in this report.

8 evidence-based answers
Is 42.zip malware?
Evidence-based answer
Yes — 42.zip is malicious. Do not open or extract it. Delete this archive from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 6 of 75 antivirus engines flag it (family: zipbomb). It behaves as a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. If you've already opened or extracted it, see the removal and recovery steps below.
What is 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
42.zip is a compressed archive, about 42 KB. Our analysis identifies it as malicious (family: zipbomb) — a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. Because a file's name and icon can be faked, the safest way to identify it is by its cryptographic hash (below), not its filename.
How many antivirus engines detected 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
6 of 75 antivirus engines flagged 42.zip, 6 of them as outright malicious. The raw count alone does not establish safety or danger; we also weigh which engines flagged it and corroborating behavior, identity, reputation, and rule evidence. The malicious verdict comes from the complete saved evidence, not from this antivirus count by itself.
I already downloaded and opened or extracted 42.zip — what should I do?
Evidence-based answer
Act quickly. 1) Disconnect the device from the internet to stop the malware communicating or spreading. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software (such as Malwarebytes) and quarantine everything it finds. 3) Change your important passwords from a DIFFERENT, clean device — many threats log keystrokes or steal saved credentials. 4) If you bank or shop on this device, watch closely for fraud and alert your bank. 5) For a confirmed infection, the most reliable fix is to back up your personal files and reinstall the operating system for a clean start.
How do I remove 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
To remove 42.zip: 1) restart into Safe Mode (Safe Mode with Networking if you need to download a tool) so the malware doesn't auto-start. 2) Run a full scan with reputable anti-malware software and let it quarantine or delete the detections. 3) Delete this archive from the device, then empty the Recycle Bin or Trash. 4) Check your browser extensions, startup items, and scheduled tasks for anything unfamiliar. 5) Reboot and scan again to confirm it's gone. If detections keep coming back, a clean operating-system reinstall is the most dependable cure.
What kind of malware is 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
42.zip is classified as a trojan — malware disguised as something harmless to trick you into running it. Engines attribute it to the zipbomb family. Knowing the family matters because it tells you the likely impact — data theft, remote control, file encryption, or unwanted ads — and guides the cleanup.
What is the SHA-256 hash of 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
The SHA-256 hash of 42.zip is bbd05de19aa2af1455c0494639215898a15286d9b05073b6c4817fe24b2c36fa, and its MD5 is 1df9a18b18332f153918030b7b516615. This hash is the file's unique fingerprint — two files with the same SHA-256 are identical. Use it to confirm you're looking at exactly this file (not just one with the same name) when comparing against antivirus databases or a download's published checksum.
How up to date is this analysis of 42.zip?
Evidence-based answer
This report reflects the scan run on August 31, 2026. Because a file's hash never changes, the identity of 42.zip is fixed — but antivirus coverage improves over time, so a file that looks clean today can pick up detections later (and vice-versa). If you need the latest picture, MalwareTips staff can re-run the analysis from scratch.
Chapter 06

Community

Member reviews and reports for this exact file hash.

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The raw file is processed temporarily and is not retained after processing. Its hash and report are public and permanent, so the next person who checks the same file gets an instant answer. Unknown files may be submitted to VirusTotal for analysis. If you ran this file on your computer and are worried, scan your system with an up-to-date antivirus and change critical passwords from a different device.