Can malware be contained in an image sent via WhatsApp?
I went online with a new WhatsApp account earlier (with a new number), and the first thing that happened was that I received a threatening message from a number with an ISD commonly used by scammers and other unsavory figures, that included an image file. Maybe that message was supposed to go to a different number, or perhaps someone else had an account registered to the same number before. I don't know. What I worry about is whether the image in question could have contained anything malicious.
I viewed the image in WhatsApp and in the Android Gallery.
Now, I know, this question gets asked from time to time, but the correct answer changes year to year and I wasn't able to make out one that applies to 2023 beyond commonplace responses like "be careful never to download something from an unknown source" and "it's always possible", so please bear with me. Of course it's always possible, I just want to know whether anything particular is known.
