Digital Virus 

Computer virus targets JPEGs for first time

A computer virus has been announced that spreads within digital pictures rather than as a self-contained executable program file.

Designated W32/Perrun-A, the primary code initially has to infect the computer independently of any image files, but then adds additional information to all JPEG files that it encounters. That extra information becomes a permanent addition, and travels with the images however and wherever they are distributed.

The virus which in the current form affects Windows operating systems only was made public by its author as a 'proof of concept', and has not been released into the wild. Even so, anti-virus software companies McAfee and Sophos have already announced updates to guard against this sort of attack in the future. Further advice can be found on the companies' websites.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------