Re: Can a .GIF contain a virus?

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 04:21:41 -0700, Drax <Drax@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Thu, 13 Jul 2006 02:46:12 -0500, tjwatkins@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 16:40:19 -0700, Drax <Drax@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 21:51:58 GMT, Art <null@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 15:00:00 -0500, tjwatkins@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Can a .GIF contain a virus?

I was sent an email from someone I do not know. There was no text in
it, just two .GIF files. The message ID number (using arin.net) was
invalid. My email software does not view anything except plain text.
HTML is viewed as text too. I have to manually open attachments too.
Because of this, I was never exposed to any viruses or spyware.
I deleted the message and the gifs, so it's gone.

I used to feel safe opening pictures, but heard that some can now
contain a virus. Can a .GIF contain one?

BTW, I failed to mention the usual newbie warning concerning so-called
hidden file extension tricks that are often used. One trick is to pad
the file name with spaces as:

sexypic.gif .exe

where the actual .exe file extension might well be missed in casual
observation. In such cases, the file isn't a image file at all, but
a executeable file.

Another trick is:

sexypic.gif.shs

where Windows hides the .shs (executeble scrap file) extension
and it looks like:

sexypic.gif

Anyway, it looks to me like you have some knowledge of "safe
hex" and you did precisely the right thing by deleting the
unsolicited email attackments :)

Art
http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg

You don't need to put spaces then exe just change the extension from
exe to jpg. If someone Double Clicks on a file even a file with the
wrong extension it will still launch the program.

Never Double Click on anything you get in e-mail even if its not an
exe file it could still be a virus or a worm.

I dont understand this. If I open a file with .JPG extension, my
picture viewer software tries to open it, and gives me an error
message. I just tried it, using a safe .EXE file (notepad.exe).
I backed up notepad.exe, then renamed the backup file to notepad.jpg.
My photo viewer tried to open it, gave me a blank screen and an error
message that said "Invalid Format".

By the way, I am running Win98SE.

In Win 2000 and everything after that Windows using it own software to
run programs unless you change Windows setting.

That is one of many reasons I do not care to upgrade. Win98 works
just fine for my needs, since I dont play games or need lots of power.
I like the idea that "I" am still in control of my computer. I have a
friend that uses XP and is always telling me that her computer does
things she did not authorize, then asks me if I can fix it. My answer
is NO. I wont even touch XP. If it was Win95, 98, or ME, not a
problem....
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Can a .GIF contain a virus?
    ... I used to feel safe opening pictures, but heard that some can now ... Can a .GIF contain one? ... hidden file extension tricks that are often used. ... exe file it could still be a virus or a worm. ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
  • Re: Can a .GIF contain a virus?
    ... Can a .GIF contain one? ... hidden file extension tricks that are often used. ... exe file it could still be a virus or a worm. ... In Win 2000 and everything after that Windows using it own software to ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
  • Re: Can a .GIF contain a virus?
    ... Can a .GIF contain one? ... hidden file extension tricks that are often used. ... where Windows hides the .shs (executeble scrap file) extension ... exe file it could still be a virus or a worm. ...
    (alt.comp.anti-virus)
  • Re: problem when renaming
    ... pops up & says that the file may be unusable if I change the extension. ... The extension tells Windows what to do if you double-click the file. ... So if you double-click an .exe file, it will execute it. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: folder options/extensions
    ... Knowing what file extension would help. ... EXE File Association Fix ... tried to create a new extension using infranview (which I now realize ... wasn't the smartest thing to do) but now every program opens in ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
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