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#1
File size of zipped password protected files larger than expected
When I compress a password protected Word or Excel file by adding to a zip or archive folder, the file size is much greater than when I add a non protected file. For example, if I compress a 5Mb Excel file, the archive (zip) file is a little less than 5Mb, with an 8% compression ratio. If I compress the same file without the password protection, the archive file is about 1Mb with an 82% compression ratio.
I guess I can somewhat understand this. The act of compressing the file is a manner of changing it. But then why do I get some minimal (8%) compression at all?
I have tried this with combinations of WinXP, Win7, Office 2003, and Office 2010, and it seems the low compression (large file size) with the password protected file is specific to systems running Office 2010. The compression ratio of the file is about 86%-88% with Office 2003, regardless of password protection. Is this part of the "enhanced security" of Office 2010? Is there a workaround for this, or is it an inescapable result of compressing a password protected file when using Office 2010?