The developers of WinRAR have released version 7.10, introducing a range of enhancements aimed at improving performance and security. Among the most notable additions are support for larger archive sizes, a redesigned settings interface, and the long-awaited dark mode.
One of the key updates pertains to the handling of the Mark-of-the-Web (MoTW) attribute, a security feature in Windows that labels files downloaded from the internet. The new version of WinRAR introduces an option that restricts the transmission of metadata during archive extraction. Now, the software can retain only the zone identifier (“Zone value only”), omitting additional details such as the source URL or IP address.
This improvement is designed to mitigate the risk of data leaks when sharing files while preserving Windows’ security mechanisms by preventing the restoration of the file’s original download path. For users who require the full scope of MoTW metadata, developers have provided an option to manually disable the restriction in WinRAR’s security settings.
The MoTW attribute functions as an alternative data stream (Zone.Identifier) that Windows appends to downloaded files, marking them as potentially unsafe. When users attempt to open such files, the system displays a warning about the risks associated with executing unverified software. Microsoft Office, in particular, enforces strict security protocols by opening MoTW-tagged documents in Protected View, thereby blocking macros and other potentially malicious content.
Beyond the MoTW adjustments, WinRAR 7.10 introduces a fully revamped settings interface, offering a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. Additionally, memory management algorithms have been optimized, resulting in enhanced performance when processing large archives.
