Hide Files in a JPG Image

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Here's another method to hide your files from others without using any software (previous trick: Lock Folders without using a Software). You can hide your files on the guise of an image file.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Take any image file, say image.jpg
2. Select the files you want to hide and compress them with any file compression tool (WinRAR, WinZip etc).
3. Place the image file and the compressed file in the same folder.
   
4. Open the command prompt (Start Menu>Run and then type 'cmd').
5. Navigate to the directory where you have stored the files (using the 'CD' command, examples).
6. Now, type the following command:
   copy \b image.jpg + compressedfile.ext
   (replace compressedfile.ext with the archive you make with the correct extension, eg .rar, .zip)

Done, you have embedded the compressed file in an image file using binary copy (copy /b). But, how to recover this file? Its simple. Follow these steps:

1. Open this image file in the same compression tool which you used to create the compressed file.
2. Select the option to extract this file.
3. You will see the files that you had embedded with this image.

Though, this method may not be as secure as protecting your files using complex cryptographic techniques, still it provides a simple alternative to protect your personal files on your computer.