WinRAR 7.10 Enhances Privacy by Stripping Windows Metadata

WinRAR 7.10 Launches with Privacy-Focused Updates and Dark Mode

WinRAR, one of the most widely used file compression tools, has released its latest version—WinRAR 7.10. This update introduces several enhancements, including larger memory pages for better performance, an improved settings interface, and a long-awaited dark mode.

One of the most notable additions is a privacy-focused setting that refines how the Mark-of-the-Web (MoTW) security flag is handled. MoTW is an alternate data stream added to files downloaded from the Internet, helping Windows and other applications identify potentially risky files. It can include details such as the file’s source URL, referring page, and even the IP address of the host from which it was downloaded.

While this feature boosts security by warning users before opening suspicious files, it can also pose a privacy concern if shared with others. To address this, WinRAR 7.10 introduces a new setting called "Zone value only," enabled by default. This setting limits MoTW propagation to include only the ZoneID, ensuring security features remain intact while removing potentially sensitive information from extracted files.

Users who prefer full MoTW propagation can revert this change by navigating to WinRAR Settings > Security and unchecking "Zone value only."

WinRAR 7.10 continues to solidify its position as a leading file archiving tool, balancing security, performance, and privacy in a single package.

New UI example: