Re: Why does Gmail block .zip and .7z files that have executables in them, forcing you to rename the extension?

[Daniel M.]

I agree. It is damn stupid to block ZIP files and it makes sense to ask Google to revert it.

On Monday, 9 December 2013 03:22:57 UTC, Ray Lopez wrote:

Why does Gmail block .zip and .7z files that have executables in them, forcing you to rename the extension?

It's absurd, like the service itself.  The only thing more absurd is Outlook.com, which blocks all inline graphics files and replaces them with a dot. 

it's enough to make one want to switch to Yahoo mail.

RL

[Ray Lopez]

[Zack (Doc)]

I wonder if you're looking for an actual answer, or just wanted to vent.  The answers you're talking about are very easy to find in the help section, so I'm guessing you were just looking to rant.  Hope you feel better getting that off your chest.

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[Andy]

On Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 10:22 PM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

Why does Gmail block .zip and .7z files that have executables in them, forcing you to rename the extension?

Because they can carry a virus.

It's absurd, like the service itself.

If you had just had your computer's HD wiped clean by a virus that was transmitted much too easily by means of an email attachment, you might whine that it is absurd that Gmail could have prevented it.

Admittedly it's not foolproof if you can send it by renaming it ... but that forces the user (you) to actually think first, rather than blindly clicking on it, or (worse) the attachment being opened automatically by your email client program.

it's enough to make one want to switch to Yahoo mail.

If Yahoo mail works better for you, go ahead and use it!  Nobody has forced you to use Gmail (I hope).  You are free to choose the service that best fits your needs.

Andy

[Andy]

Oh, by the way, just today I received a spam message that had an email attachment ... an executable file wrapped in a ZIP file!  (Not opened on my end, of course.  More than likely it had a virus.)

Since virii tend to be self-propagating, Gmail helps slow their spread by not allowing an infected computer to send out 1000 new copies.

Andy

[Ray Lopez]

On Monday, December 9, 2013 12:18:22 PM UTC+8, Andy wrote:

On Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 10:22 PM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

Why does Gmail block .zip and .7z files that have executables in them, forcing you to rename the extension?

Because they can carry a virus.

So can an attachment that is unnamed.  If you don't click on it, unpack it, run it, short of some security flaw in your OS or software, I don't see how a virus can propagate.    Google has a history of doing this sort of restrictive stuff too, for example, unless I pack source code in an Zip and rename the extension it will complain that source code is present, which is against their rules (yet ironically they sponsor 'let's code / learn to code' competitions). 

I'll be happy to see Gmail lose its market share, which I think is inevitable given their other flaws, such as the recent change to a tiny "Metro"-type screen to compose your emails.  Following Microsoft in fads will not win market share.  Google has a history of doing stupid stuff--remember when they were going to post the most popular and/or current search queries?  Imagine your enemy typing your name and something derogatory and having the whole world see it as a current search inquiry. Stupid stupid Google.

RL

[Andy]

Ray Lopez wrote:

Stupid stupid Google.

Zack's right.  You are here to pick a fight.

[John Blake]

I don't understand.
If you don't like Google and it's products then don't use them, simple fix.

Cheers
John Blake
VK6JB
Sent from my Android phone.

[Marko Vukovic]

On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 11:05 PM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

So can an attachment that is unnamed.  If you don't click on it, unpack it, run it, short of some security flaw in your OS or software, I don't see how a virus can propagate.    Google has a history of doing this sort of restrictive stuff too, for example, unless I pack source code in an Zip and rename the extension it will complain that source code is present, which is against their rules (yet ironically they sponsor 'let's code / learn to code' competitions). 

It is not ironic at all. In fact, quite the opposite. This is done to protect people's IP. Why are you emailing source code around? 

--

Marko

[Ray Lopez]

On Tuesday, December 10, 2013 3:22:43 PM UTC+8, vukko wrote: 

It is not ironic at all. In fact, quite the opposite. This is done to protect people's IP. Why are you emailing source code around? 

 

I program as a hobby.  It's my own code.

Oh, BTW, in response to Andy--I am anti-Google, true, though I don't work for Microsoft.  I also suspect some of the people here are pro-Google for the same reason: they probably work for Google.  Shills.

RL

[Zack (Doc)]

I refute your argument... you can't be ANTI-GOOGLE, as you're using their products.  You may not like some/many/any thing they do, but you're not "anti" cause a true "anti" wouldn't even use their products.

True, a number of the top posters are generally in favor of Google products.  I'll admit that I like and appreciate probably 90% of the things that they do, and I use a number of their products.  I like maybe 30% of what Microsoft does, but I still use their products.  I'm not Anti-microsoft, I just don't like some of the things they do.

No one here has ever represented themselves as an employee of Google, nor have they ever demonstrated that level of access to company specific functions (like killing trolls accounts, fixing major bugs that have been pointed out in these threads, adding features that have been mentioned in this threads).  No subscribed e-mail addresses to this forum are google.com; so if there are shills as you call them, they are very bad at their job.  I would expect shills to come out vehemently in favor of google products ONLY, have unwavering faith in the products and company direction, and use their secret company powers to eliminate nay-sayers.  We've had too many nay-sayers such as yourself hang around without being destroyed to convince me we have no shills.  Only pro-active users who enjoy the products, speak well of them, and try to help our fellow users with issues they encounter.

To Mr Blake's point... while your negative comments are acceptable here (Talk about Gmail good or bad); why do you feel the need to post them?  Is it therapeutic for you, or are you actually accepting the responses of others that offer counter arguments?

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[Marko Vukovic]

On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 4:57 AM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

I program as a hobby.  It's my own code.

So do I. I don't email my source code around, why would I? There are better ways to share/collaborate (eg. CVS, Subversion, Git).

Oh, BTW, in response to Andy--I am anti-Google, true, though I don't work for Microsoft.  I also suspect some of the people here are pro-Google for the same reason: they probably work for Google.  Shills.

If you are anti-Google then why use their product? That makes no sense. Windows Live Hotmail is also free, as is Yahoo. Nobody here (that I know of) works for Google. That's a pretty wild accusation that you are throwing out there (Shills).

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Marko

[Ray Lopez]

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 9:22:08 PM UTC+8, Zack Tennant wrote: 

To Mr Blake's point... while your negative comments are acceptable here (Talk about Gmail good or bad); why do you feel the need to post them?  Is it therapeutic for you, or are you actually accepting the responses of others that offer counter arguments?

 

It's the latter Zack Tennant.  I am not deluded enough to get therapy venting to strangers.  :-)

RL 

[Ray Lopez]

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 11:57:36 PM UTC+8, vukko wrote:

On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 4:57 AM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

I program as a hobby.  It's my own code.

So do I. I don't email my source code around, why would I? There are better ways to share/collaborate (eg. CVS, Subversion, Git).

I also use Tortoise Subversion for code depository control, but sometimes it's very handy to simply zip your source code file and email it to Gmail.  But now I have to remember to change the extension; a minor inconvenience.

 

Oh, BTW, in response to Andy--I am anti-Google, true, though I don't work for Microsoft.  I also suspect some of the people here are pro-Google for the same reason: they probably work for Google.  Shills.

If you are anti-Google then why use their product? That makes no sense. Windows Live Hotmail is also free, as is Yahoo. Nobody here (that I know of) works for Google. That's a pretty wild accusation that you are throwing out there (Shills). 

I am working to subvert Google from within--as a customer!

RL 

[Zack (Doc)]

On Thu, Dec 12, 2013 at 2:39 AM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 11:57:36 PM UTC+8, vukko wrote:

On Wed, Dec 11, 2013 at 4:57 AM, Ray Lopez <raylo...@gmail.com> wrote:

I program as a hobby.  It's my own code.

So do I. I don't email my source code around, why would I? There are better ways to share/collaborate (eg. CVS, Subversion, Git).

I also use Tortoise Subversion for code depository control, but sometimes it's very handy to simply zip your source code file and email it to Gmail.  But now I have to remember to change the extension; a minor inconvenience.

And there you show their reasoning.  They block things that can be executed with one or two clicks; in the absence of an informed decision.  You make an effort to rename the file, demonstrating enough knowledge to be trusted with your own dumb luck.  BTW, they don't check RAR for the same reason, requires an informed decision to download, install, and use it instead of ZIP which is built into Windows and MAC now.  All "real" programmers I know use RAR anyway (boy could I troll with a line like that :).  Then you wouldn't have to rename it. 

 

Oh, BTW, in response to Andy--I am anti-Google, true, though I don't work for Microsoft.  I also suspect some of the people here are pro-Google for the same reason: they probably work for Google.  Shills.

If you are anti-Google then why use their product? That makes no sense. Windows Live Hotmail is also free, as is Yahoo. Nobody here (that I know of) works for Google. That's a pretty wild accusation that you are throwing out there (Shills). 

I am working to subvert Google from within--as a customer!

While not a direct analogy, but isn't that a bit like saying "I despise Wal-Mart's labor practices, so I'm going to keep buying their products to convince them to change."  And yes, I realize, just how ironic that statement is with all the anti-wal-mart meme's around and people complaining but still buying there.  That's why I don't complain about them :)

[Zack (Doc)]

Then I suggest that you do ask them.  Complaining about it in this user's forum will not help, especially when you're not even clearly stating the problem.  They don't block ZIP files... They block executable files, and if those happen to be inside of a ZIP, then that ZIP will be blocked.  If you use a less ubiquitous compression program, like RAR, then you won't have that problem.

Their point, explained many times in this forum, was from back before they had any virus scanning, and they were eliminating it being too easy to use GMail to infect it's users with viruses.  Since Executables, and the ZIPs they're contained in, can be simply clicked and run, less educated users might click bad files.  If you have to save the file, then re-name it, THEN run it, you've taken a number of steps so you either know you're safe, or deserve to get bitten.

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[Marko Vukovic]

Agreed Zack.

If anyone really *must* put an executable in a ZIP file, simply password-protect the ZIP and Gmail's filters cannot not see what's inside.

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Marko