A decompression bomb, also known as a zip bomb, is a maliciously crafted compressed file designed to overwhelm computer systems when decompressed. These files are typically small in size but expand exponentially upon extraction, consuming excessive memory, CPU, or disk resources. The purpose is to crash or severely slow down the target system, rendering it unusable or disrupting antivirus scanning processes. Decompression bombs are often used to bypass security measures, as antivirus software may attempt to scan the contents and become incapacitated. While not directly harmful to data, they can cause denial of service and system instability. Proper security protocols and updated antivirus software can help mitigate the risks posed by decompression bombs.