I'm curious about a scenario where some malicious code from either a browser or from my hard drive modifies image files on my system. Instead of infecting my device directly, this code would only activate when I open those image files. I'm also wondering if the type of device, like a phone compared to a PC, would affect how this plays out.
3 Answers
Yes, this kind of thing is possible. There are always new viruses and hacks popping up, and they often take advantage of vulnerabilities in software. However, tools like Windows Defender typically help protect against these threats.
As for the device architecture question, yes, it does matter. Viruses target specific systems and are usually tailored to exploit certain weaknesses. So, there's no universal virus that works on every platform; they are designed with particular systems in mind.
Nope, I wouldn't worry about that. The idea of someone trying to infect your image files so you unknowingly activate it is pretty far-fetched. If someone has that level of access, they have much easier methods to disrupt your system.
Honestly, it's just more straightforward for a hacker to find a way to access your system directly rather than waiting for you to open a modified image file. If they can manipulate files, they likely already have the means to infiltrate your system without needing that extra step.
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