Solved Image files

Tasmania Green · May 4, 2026

I wonder if I’m being too cautious when it comes to being selective about which images I download to have as my computer wallpaper, I know the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service is a safe choice.

Anyway am I overly concerned? There is so much in the news about the dangers of accidentally downloading computer malware and viruses.

I’d like to hear what others think.

glasskuter · May 4, 2026

I

Tasmania Green said:
I’d like to hear what others think.

If I am in doubt, I just don't download anything from any site I am unfamiiar with. If my gut tells me to use caution, I do.

pseymour · May 4, 2026

Image-based malware is nowhere near the dominant method of delivery, but it does happen. Depending on the report you read, you might see between 10 and 30 percent of malware delivered this way, but 30 seems high in my experience.

It seems like most of the attempts I see are SVG files, which can contain embedded JavaScript. Then you have something like steganography, where data is encoded in the image's metadata or in the pixel data itself. That method usually requires you to open the image in some particular vulnerable app, e.g., they found some flaw in the way Irfanview opens PNG images or something, and it leads to code execution. (That's just a made-up example.)

And then you add to that the fact that anti-malware software in general doesn't pay much attention to image formats. Hopefully that changes.

But, now that I've worried the pants/trousers/slacks/culottes off of you, I would also say don't worry too much about it. It's rather hard to do successfully and not that common.

Tasmania Green · May 4, 2026

pseymour said:
Image-based malware is nowhere near the dominant method of delivery, but it does happen. Depending on the report you read, you might see between 10 and 30 percent of malware delivered this way, but 30 seems high in my experience.

It seems like most of the attempts I see are SVG files, which can contain embedded JavaScript. Then you have something like steganography, where data is encoded in the image's metadata or in the pixel data itself. That method usually requires you to open the image in some particular vulnerable app, e.g., they found some flaw in the way Irfanview opens PNG images or something, and it leads to code execution. (That's just a made-up example.)

And then you add to that the fact that anti-malware software in general doesn't pay much attention to image formats. Hopefully that changes.

But, now that I've worried the pants/trousers/slacks/culottes off of you, I would also say don't worry too much about it. It's rather hard to do successfully and not that common.

Thanks @pseymour

idgat · May 4, 2026

The main thing to avoid is images in compressed file format (like zip, 7z, rar, etc). It's not the format that could be the problem, it's the contents that can be hidden and then activated when the files are decompressed

Tasmania Green · May 5, 2026

idgat said:
The main thing to avoid is images in compressed file format (like zip, 7z, rar, etc). It's not the format that could be the problem, it's the contents that can be hidden and then activated when the files are decompressed

Good point. Thanks.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I appreciate it.

Ghot · May 5, 2026

Tasmania Green said:
I’d like to hear what others think.

Use 3rd party backup software, religiously. ^^

Edwin · May 5, 2026

Tasmania Green said:
Anyway, am I overly concerned?

If you're that concerned about it, go full screen, (F11), and capture your own screenshot...

spapakons · May 5, 2026

You can right-click on the image and select Copy Image to copy it to clipboard. Then open Microsoft Paint or other suitable application, Paste the image and Save as. I am not sure if this gives you the maximum quality of the image or just a smaller version. Otherwise the screenshot works fine. To get better quality for large images put the monitor to the maximum possible resolution and make sure scaling is 100 since otherwise the image is adjusted. You can use nVidia Super Resolution (SDR factor) or equivalent for Intel or AMD to force larger resolution than the native monitor resolution. These are squeezed to display on the native resolution of the monitor, but the screenshot is at the final resolution and much clearer and nicer. Useful to save images from stubborn sites that don't allow saving them.

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