Opening the contents could encrypt your hard drive. Summary Checklist Step 1 Upload to VirusTotal for a multi-engine scan. Step 2 Check the source. Was it expected? Step 3 Inspect the file extensions inside the archive. Step 4

open a suspicious archive directly on your primary computer.

Be wary of files named things like BlackHistoryMonth.rar.exe . Windows often hides known file extensions, making a program look like a simple archive. 2. Use a "Sandbox" Environment

Simply open the archive to view the file list.

If you are tech-savvy, open the file inside a VM (like VirtualBox) that has no access to your local network or personal files. 3. Inspecting the Contents Safely