Is it a Security Risk to Download Pictures in an Email?

As technology continues to advance, email scams and viruses have become increasingly common. But can these malicious entities enter your computer through picture attachments in emails? Let’s find out the answer and why it’s so important to protect against the potential security risks involved with downloading these pictures.

Email Cybersecurity Best Practices

First things first: have you followed email security best practices? Before opening that email, ensure you have the necessary precautions to protect your business. Follow this simple checklist to safeguard against email cyber attacks:

• Install reputable antivirus software and keep it up-to-date
• Use strong, unique passwords and MFA for all your accounts
• Be cautious of emails from unknown senders or with unusual subject lines
• Regularly back up important files and documents
• Stay updated on the latest security threats and scams
• Educate yourself and your employees on how to spot phishing emails and other malicious tactics

By taking these steps, you’re already minimizing your chances of falling victim to email scams and viruses.

So What’s the Answer?

Should you download that picture? We’ve had this question from clients who’ve experienced the aftermath of accidentally clicking a link in a malicious email. We’re betting there are more who’ve wondered and just haven’t asked!

If you subscribe to e-newsletters or receive emails from vendors, you’ve probably seen the option in Outlook labeled “Click Here to Download Pictures.” By default, most companies’ systems are set not to download images. That’s the recommended best practice, mainly because images can eat up a lot of data storage space. This applies whether your email is hosted in the cloud (like Office365) or on-premises (like an in-house Exchange server). Either way, that storage has costs and limits.

As for whether downloading pictures in an email is a security risk, we asked our Director of Professional Services and Innovation, Toni Coscarelli. She gave a classic Toni answer:

“It’s theoretically possible that photos can contain malicious code in order to exploit a vulnerability in the software that displays them, but…it’s pretty unlikely. Most of the time, the click-to-view option in Outlook has more to do with marketing. Often when companies send out emails, the photos are sourced from a URL [web address] that allows them to track which users allowed the photos to be viewed in the mail client. In this way, they can gauge the effectiveness of the emails.

So again, yes, in theory, it’s possible, but along the lines of it being theoretically possible it’ll be sunny and 80 degrees out tomorrow, I’m not going to be wearing flip-flops in anticipation.”

There you have it. If the message is from an email address you know and trust, downloading those pretty pictures generally does not carry the same level of risk as clicking a link. If you’re ever in doubt, err on the side of caution and just don’t do it.

Don’t Leave Security Up to Chance—Rely on Safety Net Instead

While downloading pictures may not always be a direct security risk, it is important to remember that even seemingly harmless actions can open the door to malicious entities. That’s why partnering with a trusted IT provider like Safety Net is crucial for keeping your business safe from cyber threats.

Our team of experienced professionals stays on top of the latest security risks and provides the highest-quality cybersecurity services to businesses of all sizes. From email security to network protection, we’ll keep your business safe. Contact us today to learn more!