: Many messaging platforms, email clients, and social media sites automatically convert text ending in .zip into clickable links. A user mentioning a file in a chat could inadvertently create a link to a malicious website.

Researchers have identified sophisticated ways to exploit these domains:

The Risky Intersection: Navigating the .zip Top-Level Domain

: If a user clicks a link like cert.zip , they may expect a file download but instead be directed to a phishing page designed to steal credentials or deliver malware. Malicious Techniques in the Wild