.ZZZ File Extension

CCleaner Securely Deleted File

Developer	Piriform
Popularity	Average rating 3.5 / 5. Vote count: 74
Category	Misc Files
Format	.ZZZ
Cross Platform	Update Soon

What is an ZZZ file?

The .ZZZ file extension is associated with CCleaner, a popular system optimization and cleaning tool developed by Piriform. These files represent securely deleted data by CCleaner’s secure deletion feature.

More Information.

CCleaner introduced the .ZZZ file extension as part of its suite of tools designed to ensure user privacy and data security. The primary purpose was to prevent deleted files from being recovered using data recovery software. By overwriting the files and renaming them with a .ZZZ extension, CCleaner ensures that the data is irretrievably lost.

Origin Of This File.

.ZZZ files are created when CCleaner is used to delete files securely. The secure deletion process involves overwriting the data multiple times to prevent recovery, and the files being deleted are temporarily renamed with the .ZZZ extension during this process.

File Structure Technical Specification.

.ZZZ files do not have a consistent internal structure because their content depends on the original files that have been overwritten. Essentially, a .ZZZ file is a placeholder representing data that has been securely deleted. The size and data within a .ZZZ file can vary, but it typically contains random or zeroed-out data to obscure the original content.

How to Convert the File?

Windows

On Windows, converting or repurposing .ZZZ files is not applicable since they contain securely deleted data. However, you can manage or delete them if necessary:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Open File Explorer and search for .ZZZ files on your drives.
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Select the .ZZZ files and press Shift + Delete to remove them permanently.

Linux

Similar to Windows, .ZZZ files on Linux cannot be converted to another format. To manage or delete them:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Open a terminal and use the find command, e.g., find / -name "*.ZZZ".
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Use the rm command to delete them, e.g., rm /path/to/file.ZZZ.

macOS

On macOS, the approach is the same as other platforms. You can’t convert .ZZZ files, but you can manage them:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Use Finder to search for .ZZZ files on your system.
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Move the files to the Trash and then empty the Trash, or use the terminal command rm /path/to/file.ZZZ.

Android

On Android, managing .ZZZ files involves using file management apps:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Use a file explorer app (such as ES File Explorer or Files by Google) to search for .ZZZ files.
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Select the files and choose the delete option within the file explorer app.

iOS

On iOS, direct access to system files like .ZZZ is typically restricted.

If you have access via a file management app:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Use a file management app (such as Files) to search for .ZZZ files.
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Select the files and delete them using the app’s interface.

Other Platforms

For other platforms, such as NAS systems or UNIX-based systems:

Locate .ZZZ Files:
- Use appropriate file management tools or terminal commands to find .ZZZ files, e.g., find / -name "*.ZZZ".
Delete .ZZZ Files:
- Use the relevant commands or tools to delete these files, such as rm /path/to/file.ZZZ on UNIX systems.

Advantages And Disadvantages.

Advantages:

Enhanced Security: Ensures deleted files cannot be recovered.
Privacy Protection: Helps maintain confidentiality by securely erasing sensitive information.
Compliance: Useful for meeting data protection regulations that require secure deletion.

Disadvantages:

Irrecoverability: Once a file is securely deleted and turned into a .ZZZ file, it cannot be recovered.
Disk Space: If not managed correctly, numerous .ZZZ files can occupy disk space.
Performance: The secure deletion process can be time-consuming, impacting system performance temporarily.

               How to Open ZZZ?
                  Open In Windows
                  Use CCleaner to configure or disable secure deletion.
Manually delete .ZZZ files if they occupy space (note this is a rare need).

                  Open In Linux
                  Identify the files using a file manager.
Manually delete them if necessary using commands like rm.

                  Open In MAC
                  Use a file management tool to locate .ZZZ files.
Delete them manually if required using Finder or terminal commands like rm.

                  Open In Android
                  Using a file explorer app to locate the files.
Deleting them if necessary, understanding that they represent securely deleted data.

                  Open In IOS
                  Using a file management app to find and delete any .ZZZ files, if accessible.

                  Open in Others
                  Use appropriate file management tools to locate and delete .ZZZ files.
Understand that these files are remnants of securely deleted data.