Grand Theft Auto V PC system requirements - Rockstar Support

It didn't take John long to realize that something was amiss. He began to research the issue and discovered that the highly compressed zip file he had downloaded was, in fact, a pirated version of the game. The file had been tampered with, and the "installer" was actually a malware-laden executable that had infected his computer.

The legend of the 10MB GTA V spread like wildfire. Some say it was a masterclass in coding; others say it was the most efficient Trojan horse ever built. To this day, if you look deep enough into the archives of the internet, you can still find the ghost of that zip file—a digital siren song for anyone looking to save a little space.

While the idea of downloading a blockbuster game in a few minutes is appealing, the reality of "highly compressed" GTA V files is almost universally negative. Here is a breakdown of why you should avoid these files at all costs.

He deleted his browser history. Then he unplugged the PC, carried it down to his building’s courtyard, and sat with it in silence for an hour.