File Extension kmz

April 21, 2009

in file extensions

Extension: kmz

What is it? Google Earth Saved Working Session

Where’s it from? Kmz files are created by the online Google Earth geographical information system (GIS). Google Earth is used to locate points on the planet and display satellite image information about locations.

How do I use it? Users don’t use kmz files. Google Earth accesses them when you are using it.

Can I safely delete or move it? Yes, but you will lose the file’s information about your saved Google Earth session. So you will have to start all over again or forget it.

Can it be dangerous? No malware has been reported that exploits kmz files.

–David Hakala

{ 1 comment }

Fionnuala 04.24.09 at 8:35 am

.kmz are just Google Earth kml files bundled with some additional media, usually images.

To see this, just rename the file to .zip, and then open it with your regular zip program. You can see the .kml and any other files in there too!

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