Entered CNET Catalog: 05/06/2003
SKU: PKZ5000
Manufacturer: PKWARE, Inc.
Manufacturer description
PKWARE, the leader in secure data compression, introduces PKZIP 5.0, the only data compression software that uses the new extended .ZIP file format introduced by PKWARE to provide both certificate-based and traditional password-based encryption and authentication. Additionally, this latest version of PKWARE's award-winning data compression application incorporates strong encryption algorithms (up to 3 DES 168-bit encryption) to deliver an even greater level of security than has previously been available. With the release of PKZIP 5.0, PKWARE addresses the pressing need for advanced data security capabilities across enterprises, government organizations, developers and individual users who employ data compression technology to compress, store and transfer data and applications by significantly increasing the ease and extent to which they can digitally sign and encrypt their files. PKZIP 5.0 provides an easy-to-use solution that is affordable, accessible and requires no custom application development or specialized technical resources. PKZIP 5.0 integrates support for standard X.509 v3 digital certificates with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to sign and encrypt compressed files. When an individual compresses a file, PKZIP gives the user a choice of assigning a password and/or a digital certificate (when available) to encrypt the files. The user may also choose to digitally sign every file in a .ZIP file archive. In essence, PKZIP turns a traditional .ZIP file into a secure .ZIP file for the purpose of storage or transmission. There is minimal overhead because while PKWARE is compressing a package of files, it is also simultaneously applying access control (with passwords) and security (with encryption). PKZIP 5.0 also offers integration with Microsoft Outlook to seamlessly provide automatic compression, digital signing and encryption of files that are attachments to email messages. PKZIP 5.0 Professional offers quality data compression together with support for multiple levels of security as well as automatic compression, digital signing and encryption for Microsoft Outlook users. Organizations may use PKZIP 5.0 Professional to leverage their investments in PKI, but PKI is not required in order to realize the benefits of the other security capabilities that are supported in the product.CNET editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 10/02/2002
Install and go
PKZip 5.0 Professional installs effortlessly--just accept the default setup, and you'll be ready to securely zip up your files. You'll find all of the standard functions that you'd expect from a zip program, including integration with antivirus software and an impressive list of security features. With PKZip, you can encrypt your archives, lock them with passwords, and even use digital signatures and certificates to send your compressed files securely.
Are you tired of revving up encryption tools such as PGPfreeware every time you need to e-mail a secure, compressed file? PKZip's built-in encryption/authentication functionality takes care of secure file transmission. PKZip uses 168-bit, RC2, and DES encryption and integrates support for X.509 v3 digital certificates. For these advanced security features to work, however, both you and your recipient must use PKZip Standard or Professional.
Seamless Windows integration
Thankfully, PKZip Professional also works hand in hand with Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer, and Microsoft Outlook. Click any ZIP file download link in Internet Explorer, for example, and PKZip Professional asks you where to save the file and gives you the option to open, test, or extract the archive file on the fly.
Like most other compression apps, PKZip Professional allows you to right-click any file or directory in Windows Explorer to access PKZip's compression options. At this point, there's a menu to add the file to an existing archive, create a new archive with it, zip and e-mail it, make it into a self-extracting archive so that the end recipient need only open it to uncompress, or access PKZip Professional's configuration options. You can also get to these options from the app's desktop interface.
Zippy zipping
When it comes to performance, PKZip Professional is one of the best among compression programs. On our 900MHz Pentium-III test system, with 256MB of RAM and Windows XP, PKZip Professional took only 20 seconds to compress a 55MB directory of various-sized files into an 18MB archive. This compression was the fastest of any program we've tested, including PentaZip 5.1
On the other hand, with very large directories, PKZip performs a little below PentaZip 5.1. Where PKZip Professional took approximately seven minutes to zip up a 1GB directory into a 523MB archive, it took PentaZip 5.1 30 seconds less to compress the same directory down to 516MB. But, like PentaZip, PKZip Professional handles very large files gracefully, creating compressed file archives that are larger than 4GB if necessary.
Tech support aplenty
PKZip Professional is an industrial-strength compression program with more advanced encryption and authentication features than those of its competition. At $49.95 ($39.95 for the download), the program isn't cheap, but PKZip Professional is essential if you are concerned about the security of your archived files. Otherwise, PentaZip 5.1 offers more features for the same price. There is a PKZip 5.0 Standard Edition for $29.95 ($24.95 for the download), but it does not contain the advanced security features found in the professional edition.
In the off chance that you have trouble running PKZip, you can find a number of tech-support options from various sources. PKZip Professional's integrated help files are extensive. You can also turn to the collection of useful online FAQs at the PKWare site. Plus, for the first 90 days, you'll receive unlimited free technical support via e-mail and even free telephone support. A $10 subscription fee extends the telephone support for a year and entitles you to a free upgrade to PKZip 6.0 Professional when it comes out.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1
User Rating: 
1/10
Classic Pkzip functionality
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PKZip 5.0 Professional specifications
- General
- Category Utilities
- Subcategory Utilities - desktop backup / compression / archiving
- Version 5.0
- License pricing Standard
- Software
- License Type Complete package
- License Qty 1 user
- License Pricing Standard
- Platform Windows
- Distribution Media CD-ROM
- Package Type Retail
- System Requirements
- OS Required Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 , Microsoft Windows 98 , Microsoft Windows XP , Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition , Microsoft Windows 2000
