: Because the extracted files lack the MotW flag, Windows treats them as if they were created locally on your computer. This allows malicious macros or scripts to run without any security prompts.
The specific bypass you are likely referencing involves vulnerabilities in archive tools like or WinZip . bypass_motw.zip
Windows uses "Mark of the Web" as a security flag (an NTFS Alternate Data Stream) to label files from untrusted sources, like the internet. This flag triggers warnings and "Protected View" in Microsoft Office to prevent malicious code from running automatically. How the Bypass Works : Because the extracted files lack the MotW
Security researchers and software vendors recommend the following steps to prevent this type of exploit: Bypassing Mark of the Web with 7zip CVE-2025-0411 bypass_motw.zip