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"Show Images" feature security in Yahoo app

917 Views 3 Replies 2 Participants Last post by cwwozniak, Jan 2, 2018

MusicTech1

Discussion Starter · Jan 2, 2018 (Edited)

Why does it ask to "Show Images" in Yahoo mail app? I accidentally clicked on "show images" on what looks like a phishing email. I didn't click on the hyperlink, but I clicked the "show images" button. Am I infected with viruses now?? LOL

What is the purpose of "show images"? I've heard opening a PDF can execute programs, but can viewing images inserted into the body of an email have any negative effect on the security of your device? If not, what is the purpose of this feature? Thanks!

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cwwozniak

· #2 · Jan 2, 2018

Hi MusicTech1, and welcome to TSG.

The URL of some of the images could be unique to the email address of each email recipient. Displaying the image when opening the email would allow the sender to track when the email was opened by the particular recipient and possibly their general location, based on their IP address, at the time it was opened.

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MusicTech1

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 2, 2018

Hi Chuck,
Thanks so much for your response and insight. So besides the sender possibly knowing my general location and IP, are there any other security risks? I did this on my phone so I wouldn't want any personal stuff being accessed by the bad guys. It seems harmless, but I was just wondering why Yahoo would go through the trouble to "block images" if there isn't much of a security threat.

Thanks again!

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cwwozniak

· #4 · Jan 2, 2018

I did a bit of reading up on this during lunch. There is a way to embed Malware into a picture file, such as a JPEG file, that will execute when opened with a modern browser that supports HTML5. I don't know what happens if you view the same message in an email program like Thunderbird or MS-Outlook.

https://www.opswat.com/blog/image-borne-malware-how-viewing-image-can-infect-device

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