Zip file encryption compromise thrashed out

Monday, 26 January 2004, 3:53 PM EST

Compression software companies PKWare and WinZip have agreed to make their rival approaches to encrypting zip files more compatible.

The latest beta of WinZip's software is able to read files wrapped up and encrypted using PKWare's PKZip. Meanwhile PKZip, the free reader application, will be able to open up files compressed and encrypted in WinZip's programme.

The agreement eases fears that the ubiquitous Zip standard could become fragmented by incompatible methods of encryption. Both companies have agreed to support the other's password-based decryption.

This is positive for interoperability but shouldn't be confused as an agreement on a single standard for secure zip.

By John Leyden at The Register.

[ Read more ]





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