WinRAR is the Windows version of RAR Archiver, the powerful archiver and archive manager. WinRAR can create compressed files in both RAR and ZIP formats. It can unpack most known file formats such as RAR, ZIP, ISO, CAB, 7ZIP and many more. The program was first developed by Eugene Roshal (developer) and Alexander Roshal (Distributor) in 1995. It is the most popular archiving software with more than 500 million users of the program worldwide. It is an essential archiver software that all users need. Moreover, it is compatible with all platforms including windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Android. RAR files can, in most cases, contain content up to 30 percent more effectively compressed than within ZIP files. The most notable functions of WinRAR include very powerful document and multimedia file compression, file encryption, processing of other archive formats, programmable self-extracting (SFX) archives, damaged archive repair and Unicode support. In this review I will try to first explain the main features of the program then discuss in more details the important new features in version 5.70 User Interface: List of features and drop-down menus: WinRAR has two views available: Archive view: WinRAR lets you easily browse all files and folders of all archives present on your computer. File view: The files and folders can be easily browsed using the program similar to your explorer Change the program UI Look: For those who like to change program skin, just download many themes from the official website and open it in WinRAR to install. Installed themes can be selected in the "Options/Themes" WinRAR menu to enjoy using the program in your preferred skin. You can download the themes here: http://www.rarlab.com/themes.htm You can even create your own theme and use it, follow the guide present here: http://www.rarlab.com/themes_new.htm You can also use WinRAR logos created by other users; please visit here: http://www.rarlab.com/logo.htm What is the formats supported by the program? The main formats supported by the program are RAR, RAR4 and ZIP. The program can handle many other formats so that you don’t need to install other applications. These include 7Z, ARJ, BZ2, CAB, GZ, ISO, JAR, LZH, TAR, UUE, XZ, Z files. RAR files offer better compression, better self-extraction multi volume, recovery record and lock mode. ZIP format is more popular, fast and can be opened without external programs Archiving: You can add any files or folders to an archive form. After you select the files or folders, simply right click and choose “add to archive” from the context menu. You can also open WinRAR and browse to the file or folder then select add to archive or use the built-in wizards. The archive formats supported include RAR, RAR4 and ZIP. Note that to create archives larger than 4 GB, you need to use NTFS, as older file systems do not support such large files. Archive name and Parameters: These are grouped under many buttons in the pop-up dialogue. These include general, advanced, options, files, backup, time and comment If you want to save current settings to new profile: Extraction: The program can easily extract any supported archive format using the main program window, right context menu or the wizard feature that will be discussed in this review SFX Creation: Create self-extracting archives through the built in SFX tool. This allows you to send compressed files to any user with no archiving software needed to extract the contents. Advanced SFX Options: Wizards function: This built-in feature helps you to create new archive or unpack (extract) any archive on your computer or add files to existing archive. Simply, start the wizard and choose one of the three options available. If you want to create new archive, new dialogue will appear and lets you choose the file you want to archive. Click next, you will be directed to advanced options which allows you to add password to encrypt the file, split the output file, delete files after archiving, create self-extracting archive and faster less tight compression. After making your selections click finish. That's all! Encrypt archives: Using this tool, you can easily protect your files against any unauthorized access. The program will let you encrypt your files with 256-bit strong encryption feature (available with RAR5 format). This is easily done either during creation of an archive or for any existing archive on your computer using password button. Add default password (can be applied for all archives you have and even encrypt file names). RAR passwords are stored in password manager and protected with master password. The WinRAR Encryption Algorithm improved with RAR 5.0 If you set “Encrypt file names” option, WinRAR will encrypt not only file data, but all other sensitive archive areas like file names, sizes, attributes, comments and other blocks. It provides a higher security level. Please remember that a good password consists of a combination of letters, numbers, and special characters. It should have a minimum length of 8 characters. Scan: The program has a built-in feature “Integrated virus scan”. This will make it easy to specify security software which will automatically scan compressed files for any threats File converter: WinRAR supports conversion of compressed files from one to another supported formats. This feature is available under tools menu. Simply add the file you want to convert then select the output format from the available list and specify the save location. Test and Repair Archives: If you have a problem with any compressed archive format, you can easily test the file for any errors using WinRAR. In addition; you can repair corrupted or damaged archives to avoid data loss. Find (search): This important feature will help you to search for any files or archives on your computer. This will save your time and effort Get information about the archive: use the info button after choosing the archive. You will have full information about this archive Benchmark option: This built-in feature lets you may compare performance of RAR compression algorithm on different computers. For example, when you need to choose a new computer and wish to know which one will compress data faster Generate report: First choose an archive then specify some parameters as the destination, send to printer, send to clipboard, format type (text or html), sort order and finally generate report. Protect archive from damage using the option located in command menu. You can select to disable modifications. This supports RAR format only Other tools: such as print file, delete, rename, view, add files to existing archive, add comments, copy and paste from clipboard, import and export of settings, view log Right context menu: Archives on your computer (for example; desktop): Archives opened within WinRAR: New Features in Version 5.70? The new release focuses on usability enhancements as well as on the removal of ACE support which was necessary, due to a potential security risk arising through corrupted ACE archives. POTENTIAL SECURITY VULNERABILITY WARNING & Drop of ACE archive format support WinRAR has always been known for its wide support of all popular compression formats. A recent report by Check Point Software revealed a potential security vulnerability in the UNACEV2.DLL library, which was used in former versions of WinRAR to decompress ACE archives. There haven't been any reported attacks so far, but to provide WinRAR users with a stable and clean version, the final version of WinRAR 5.70 has been released. Since UNACEV2.DLL had not been updated since 2005 and access to its source code is not available, the decision was made to drop ACE archive support starting with WinRAR 5.70. Now, after the launch of the final and stable version of WinRAR 5.70, upgrading immediately to the new 5.70 version is highly recommended. Users not interested in an upgrade or don't find a localized version of WinRAR 5.70 yet, delete the UNACEV2.DLL file from their current WinRAR version to be reliably protected again. All users of WinRAR 5.10 or any newer version can find the UNACEV2.DLL file in the WinRAR program folder. WinRAR users of versions older than 5.10, can find the UNACEV2.DLL file in the Formats subfolder of the WinRAR program. Extracting Code Execution from WinRAR: Check Point Software Technologies, Ltd. Published on Feb 20, 2019 Working with the different file time stamps of Windows WinRAR users now have the option of working with the different file time stamps that Windows offers. It is possible to choose file times based on modification, creation or last access when compressing data with the "Files to process" option on the "Time" page of the archiving dialog. This can be extremely useful especially when creating back-ups with WinRAR. Previously it was possible for modification time only. In addition, WinRAR file list can now display the creation time and last access file times if they are available, providing more information to the user. Creation and last access columns are disabled by default and can be enabled in "Select file list columns" dialog. Usability Enhancements Now, the user can modify the behavior of the option, "Put each file to separate archive" of the "Files" page by the two new options "Double extensions for archives" and "Archives in Subfolders.” This way, back-up options are further enhanced and the user can sort the data based upon their requirements. You can create a separate archive for every file in selected subfolders or store the entire contents of every selected folder in separate archive depending on the state of "Archives in subfolders" option. If context menu "Extract each archive to separate folder" is applied to archives from different folders in Windows Explorer "Search results", subfolders with unpacked files are created in each archive folder. Previous versions created them all in a folder of right clicked archive. The new "Files list/Files/Exact sizes" option allows the user to see the file size displayed in bytes when it is turned on. If it is turned off, the sizes are rounded up and shown in KB or MB. In addition the "File list/List Style/Checkboxes" option allows the use of checkboxes to select file list items and is further improving usability of the software. "Find" command "Disks and folders" drop down list has been renamed to "Search area". Additionally to already existing choices, it includes a new "Selected items" option restricting search to files and folders selected in WinRAR file list. "Find" command displays the number of found items in status bar. "Diagnostic messages" window displays archive names in a separate column to provide the better message visibility for lengthy archive names. Read and write buffer size is increased for .iso files. It can help to improve .iso extraction performance in some cases, such as for network drives. "Delete archive" option in extraction dialog can be applied to a set of: RAR and REV volumes in (volname.part# format), WinRAR will delete REV volumes as well. Previously only RAR volumes were deleted keeping REV files intact. It can be applied to set of ZIP volumes (for example .zip.001, .zip.002, .zip.003 extensions,) WinRAR will delete all ZIP volumes. Previously only .zip.001 volume was deleted for such volume naming scheme. Other changes and new features: If we unpack arcname.rar using "Extract to arcname\" Explorer context menu command and "arcname" file already exists, WinRAR shell extension will propose "Extract to arcname~1\" instead. Previously this context menu command attempted to create a folder with same name as already existing file and failed. If we pack a shortcut file with .lnk extension from Explorer context menu, .lnk file itself is added to archive. Previous versions added .lnk file target instead of .lnk file. Windows does not allow executables exceeding 4 GB, so WinRAR issues an error immediately when attempting to create 4 GB or larger RAR SFX volumes. Previously WinRAR issued such error only after creating the first RAR volume. Total extraction progress is displayed for 7z multivolume archives. Accuracy of 7z total extraction progress is improved. Command line -ta, -tb, -tn, -to switches accept 'm', 'c' and 'a' modifiers after the switch name. So file time conditions can include not only the file modification time as in previous versions but also creation and last access time. The users can find a complete list of all improvements and all bug-fixes here: https://www.win-rar.com/whatsnew.html. WinRAR Settings: General settings include the options that control toolbar, buttons, system, history, interface, logging Compression: include the options for file compression such as compression profiles, split volume sized, default folder for archives, default folder for extracted files, Path: include folder for temporary files (used with removable disc) and start up folder File list: list type, style, files, selection and set font Viewer: Viewer type (Internal or external or associated program or ask), internal viewer options, external viewer name. Security options as file types excluded from extraction, wipe temporary files and virus scanner Integration options include the file types associated with the program, shell integration, Interface (add to desktop, start menu or create program WinRAR group) and context menu items. Conclusion: WinRAR is the most popular archiver software. It has many tools and features that can create compressed files in both RAR and ZIP formats. It can unpack most known file formats such as RAR, ZIP, ISO, CAB, 7ZIP and many more. It is compatible with all platforms including windows, Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Android. The current updated version stops the security vulnerability that was reported in the previous versions Homepage: https://www.win-rar.com/ Download: https://www.win-rar.com/download.html Support: https://www.win-rar.com/support.html FAQs: https://www.win-rar.com/faq.html News: https://www.win-rar.com/news.html
Thank you for another superb and detailed review especially on the ACE format vulnerability @tarekma7