CAM UnZip

CNET Editors' review

Developers have answered the need for better ZIP utilities than Windows provides. We took a spin with CAM unZip, which offers to simplify the process of zipping and unzipping files in Windows but also packs power-user options such as a command-line interface, password compatibility, and the ability to run files upon extraction.

During setup, the installer recommends making CAM unZip your default compression utility, which we selected. The program's efficient interface has File and Help menus and icons for opening archives and creating new ones. The File menu lists Options, but "Option" would be more accurate since there's just one, a checkbox to show hints when you hover the cursor, which we also selected. We clicked Open Zip Archive, browsed to a compressed folder, and opened it in the program's decompression interface. This displayed tabs for extracting and adding/deleting items from the archive and the folder's contents listed below in a tabular view. We selected from options to unzip all or just selected files as well as to Overwrite Existing Files, Re-Create Folders, and Run Set-up After Extraction. Next we browsed to a destination folder and clicked Extract. CAM unZip quickly extracted the files. The Add to/Delete tab was quite similar, only with a drag-and-drop Files to Add box and a password command as well as function-specific controls. Interestingly, the program uses the spelling "Zip" on the Open icon and "ZIP" on the adjacent New Archive button; in any case, adding a new compressed archive was just as easy as unzipping files. CAM unZip even asked before overwriting existing archives, something we like to see. With software, it's not always best to do something and then seek permission! Clicking any zipped folder opened it in CAM unZip, since it was set as our default tool.

CAM unZip is free for personal use, though there's an ad banner along the bottom; a minor distraction at best. We'd like to see full context menu integration, though, for users who'd prefer not to use the program as their default compression tool. However, CAM unZip more than holds its own against comparable ZIP tools.

Publisher's Description

More Products to Consider

  • Unzip Wizard
    Easy way to unzip ZIP files.

    This download is served from an external site

    close

    NOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.

    Continue to download

    Sponsored Products

    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • ZIP Reader
    Unzip ZIP archives and decrypt SecureZIP files.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • WinRAR (32-bit)
    Take full control over RAR and ZIP archives, along with unpacki...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • WinRAR (64-bit)
    Take full control over RAR and ZIP archives, along with unpacki...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • CCleaner
    Clean up junk files and invalid Registry entries.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Advanced SystemCare
    Tune up and maintain your PC, clean registry easily.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • WinZip
    Zip and unzip files instantly, protect them by encryption, or b...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Glary Utilities
    Fix, speed up, maintain, and protect your PC.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • MiniTool Partition ...
    Move, resize, copy, explore, and recover hard disk drive partit...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Easeus Partition Ma...
    Configure and manage disk partitions, move, resize, copy and re...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Download App
    Get the latest updates for the software installed on your compu...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • EmEditor Profession...
    Create macros and edit text in scripting-based editor which sup...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • 7-Zip
    Archive files in different formats and manage them.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • RarZilla Free Unrar
    Extract or decompress all sorts of RAR files.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • DC++ Portable
    Share files over the Web, connect to, and search through multip...
    Download
  • SlimDrivers Free
    Update PC drivers automatically using cloud technology.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Ken Ward's Zipper
    Compression program.

    This download is served from an external site

    close

    NOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.

    Continue to download

    Sponsored Products

    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Zortam Mp3 Media St...
    Edit MP3 tags, find covers, and organize your music collection.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Wise Care 365 Free
    Get the utility and functions of Wise Disk Cleaner and Wise Reg...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • DiskDigger
    Recover files from any type of media.
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • JustZIPit
    File compression tool.

    This download is served from an external site

    close

    NOTICE: This link will open a connection to a third-party site. CNET cannot ensure the security of software that is hosted on external sites.

    Continue to download

    Sponsored Products

    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Agilian Portable
    Boost your productivity with innovative and intuitive technolog...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
  • Wise Registry Clean...
    Find and fix incorrect or obsolete information in the Windows r...
    Download

    Installed

    Smart Install
All User Reviews
  • All versions:

    3.0 stars

    out of 22 votes

    • 5 star: 5
    • 4 star: 6
    • 3 star: 2
    • 2 star: 3
    • 1 star: 6
  • Current version:

    2.8 stars

    out of 6 votes

    • 5 star: 1
    • 4 star: 2
    • 3 star: 0
    • 2 star: 1
    • 1 star: 2
  • My rating:

    0 stars

    Write review

Results 1-6 of 6

  • 1.0 stars

    "DO NOT DOWNLOAD! CONTAINS MALWARE! CNET NOT 2B TRUSTED!"

    April 30, 2013  |   By MACpistol.com

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    NONE. I never got to try "cam unzip" for it's stated function because my time was eaten up dealing with all the malware it came with.

    Cons

    I had to spend an hour getting rid of all the adware that came with this malicious program. Let's see, after I downloaded and installed this program, I was immediately stuck with an unwanted search tab in my browser, that I could not immediately get rid of. It appeared because the "default tab" add on was installed onto my firefox browser ENTIRELY WITHOUT WARNING OR PERMISSION. "Default tab" was also installed as a program on my computer and had to be removed via control panel. Getting rid of "default tab" took care of the maliciously added tab and the maliciously added search provider also added without my permission in my browser's search providers section but then there was the "get savin" program which hijacked my computer, and was added as a program, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO REMOVE IT VIA CONTROL PANEL, MY COMPUTER WAS HIJACKED AND IT WAS UNREMOVABLE! Microsoft security essentials didn't find it. Only malwarebytes got rid of it. DON'T DOWNLOAD THIS!

    Summary

    DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS MALICIOUS PROGRAM! CNET has sold us out and does not protect users.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

  • 1.0 stars

    "has 8 viruses in this download"

    March 11, 2013  |   By cowell1975

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    none, filled with a trojan called PUP

    Cons

    filled with 8 PUP trojans

    Summary

    DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS, I had to use malware bytes because my computer immediately started popping up all kinds of screens and acting wierd, it gave me 8 PUP viruses

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (0)

  • 4.0 stars

    "It was just what I needed to complete an official form."

    October 23, 2011  |   By nonnox15

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    Installed easy, simple to use.

    Cons

    Some difficulty in placing the characters exactly where you want them.

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

  • 5.0 stars

    "works great for me"

    August 3, 2011  |   By blingsupreme

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    easy to use, no problems

    Cons

    none I am aware of

    Summary

    great software

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

  • 4.0 stars

    "works fine but I have not used extensively"

    January 17, 2011  |   By drpolitix

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    does the job

    Cons

    no problems found

    Summary

    successful so far as I have used it

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (0) (0)

  • 2.0 stars

    "It is random cam and does not follow the choice"

    December 25, 2010  |   By shereef2010

    Version: CAM UnZip 4.5

    Pros

    this cam must differentiate between adults and non adults

    Cons

    I know no nothing ,it was by chance,visiting my website

    Summary

    it needs lot of improvements..like meeting the interests of users,.no violation and disturbance of other users

    Reply to this review

    Was this review helpful? (1) (2)

Results 1-6 of 6

Add Your Review

or Log in or create an account to post a review.
You are logged in as . Please submit your review for CAM UnZip 4.5
Add Your Review

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

Submit your reply

Submit

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.
Click here to review our site terms of use.

cancel

E-mail this review

Submit cancel

Report offensive content

If you believe this comment is offensive or violates the CNET's Site Terms of Use, you can report it below (this will not automatically remove the comment). Once reported, our staff will be notified and the comment will be reviewed.

Select type of offense:

Offensive: Sexually explicit or offensive language
Spam: Advertisements or commercial links
Disruptive posting: Flaming or offending other users
Illegal activities: Promote cracked software, or other illegal content
Submit cancel

See more CNET content tagged:

Previous Versions:

Error

close

ERROR MESSAGE

If you think this is an error, please contact CNET TechTracker Support for further assistance.

Ok

Running Request

close

loading

Smart Install Software

close

CNET TechTracker will now automatically install software without requiring further action by you. (Note: This feature automatically accepts associated EULAs and third party applications on your behalf.)

You have selected the following software to Smart Install:

CNET TechTracker will attempt to install this software without interrupting you again. If an application requires manual installation, CNET TechTracker will download the installer and prompt you to take further action.

Proceed with Smart Install?

Confirm Standard Install Cancel

Submit a problem report for CAM UnZip

close

Please describe the problem you have with this software. This information will be sent to our editors for review.

Problem:

The CNET Installer isn't working as expected

The download link does not work

The software has a newer version

The software contains malware

Other

Description:

Please select a feedback type.

Please enter a description.

Submit Problem Report

Problem Report submitted

close

Thank you for submitting a problem report! The Download team is committed to providing you with accurate software information.

OK

Installed

Smart Install

About CNET Installer

The CNET Download.com Installer is a tiny ad-supported stub installer or "download manager" that helps securely deliver your downloads from Download.com's servers. We also include offers for carefully screened software that complies with Download.com Software Policies as part of our Installer process. Learn more

CAM UnZip