Is It Safe and Easy to Use Ifranview
#1 
evanexempt
-
- Members
- 18 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 10:34 PM
Posted 07 April 2015 - 06:08 PM
I get the sense that this Bleeping community has a penchant for security and system wares (stuff that really lies at the heart of making a machine work properly), and I suppose this goes hand-in-hand with the site's name and concept 
With this we see an arsenal of system utilities and anti-mals in the downloads section. The photos-images section, by contrast (NPI), looks a little sparse with only one application listed. So, I just wanted to throw a few of my favorite freebies out there, along with a question-suggestion that is likely to raise some eyebrows.
I'm sure everyone here knows about Gimp. And then there is Blender which moves outside the photo realm and into 3D objects. But these programs are widely known and have their own securely hosted download sites. (No need to host them here -- especially when they are updated so frequently.)
But what I am actually wondering about is the possibility of BleepingComputer hosting a clean download of an old favorite called Irfanview.
When I say 'clean download', I am refering to the software's notoriety for coming bundled with bADwarez of all description. (Notice that I didn't even link the Irfanview page? This omission was to protect the careless user who might go and download something that could harm his machine. #ModBrowniePoints)
And please, let's not turn this into a conversation that belongs in the malware forum. (We just can't escape that topic, can we?)
I only suggest a look at Irfanview because it is a flexible and compact image editor, ignoring for a moment that it has a bad name because of bad people who have used its deserved popularity for bad purposes.
Any personal thoughts/experience using Irfanview (aside from malware complaints)? Or do any of you folks feel that there is a viable alternative in the same weight class? i.e., small footprint, low system resource usage -- Gimp is great and all, but it is a monster of a program compared to Irfanview.
If you haven't used Irfanview, it might be described as being reminiscent of an early version of Photoshop Elements (lean yet reasonably well-featured) or perhaps MS Paint (*if* Paint didn't... yeah...)
But yeah, at this point, I won't even download a copy of Irfanview, and I suggest you not attempt to either. (This is precisely the reason I am suggesting its inclusion as a clean download on BleepingComputer... assuming there are any clean .exe files still in existence. LoL)
Thanks, and I hope to have made the point that it has been my intention to invite a discussion on graphics/photo-editing software and not a panel on malware. Please.
Also, I am new here and don't even know who manages the Bleeping downloads section, or if I even have any business making content suggestions. If I have presumed too boldly in this matter, I apologize.
Edited by computerxpds, 08 April 2015 - 07:55 AM.
Moved from Graphics Design and Photo Editing to more appropriate forum
-
Back to top
BC AdBot (Login to Remove)
-
- BleepingComputer.com
- Register to remove ads
#2
saw101
-
- Members
- 574 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
- Local time: 08:34 PM
Posted 07 April 2015 - 07:43 PM
I've used Irfanview off and on over many years & have never once experienced any issues regarding unwanted bundled software or other. Googling for issues regarding such turned up nothing. I would certainly have no qualms about re-installing it. I would suggest one downloads it via the official website here: http://www.irfanview.com/ Additionally if BleepingComputer provides or were to provide a download for it, be assured it would be 100% safe.
From the official Irfanview FAQ: Located here: http://www.irfanview.com/faq.htm
Q: Does IrfanView contain Spyware or Viruses, etc.?
A: NO. If your anti virus program reports a virus or spyware in IrfanView downloaded from the official homepages, you should either update the anti virus program or use a better one.
Would you care to post sources for your concern as to the "software's notoriety for coming bundled with bADwarez of all description."
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
- Back to top
#3
evanexempt
- Topic Starter
-
- Members
- 18 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 10:34 PM
Posted 07 April 2015 - 07:44 PM
I created what might be considered asister thread about what would actually be involved with purging a common install (.exe) file -- if such a thing were even possible. If you feel more compelled towards themalware aspect of the conversation, this might be the place to go and vent it.
- Back to top
#4
evanexempt
- Topic Starter
-
- Members
- 18 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 10:34 PM
Posted 07 April 2015 - 08:35 PM
Q: Does IrfanView contain Spyware or Viruses, etc.?
A: NO. If your anti virus program reports a virus or spyware in IrfanView downloaded from the official homepages, you should either update the anti virus program or use a better one.Would you care to post sources for your concern as to the "software's notoriety for coming bundled with bADwarez of all description."
I can pull together a small handful of "malware" + "irfanview" searches that anyone can find on Google if it please ye.
BUT, I can tell you that I have received browser warnings (like actual *Chrome/Windows-based warnings*, i.e. not even my anti-malware software) by just navigating to two of the first four download sites listed on Irfanview.com, including CNET and Fileforum (the latter a supposed Irfanview EDITOR'S PICK).
I have, on prior occasions, received malwared files from CNET (FruityLoops Pro Trial pack -- didn't bother to scan -- my stupid fault -- gave me AVG Toolbar -- ooh did that stink) and then TechSpot (where I downloaded Aomei Partition Assistant -- scanned and it wascleared by both Malwarebytes Premium and Norton Internet Security[!!] upon entry -- but still gave me the Taplika browser hijacker virus which took two weeks and the installation of some extremely shady renegade anti-malwares such as Lotus' SpyHunter4 [basically a registered criminal app]to even get rid of!)
I consider a good deal of these problems to be common knowledge and I know more than one person who keeps a pawn/download-Machine on his/her network for the purpose of cautiously downloading new wares from these "popular third party websites" and testing them for infections. More than one of these friends has knowingly downloaded a not-that-bad/cureable mal onto his/her primary machine, with the shaky confidence that he/she could (hopefully) remove it with a premium-legit anti-virus application.
Somtimes it works, sometimes not.
This insanity needs to stop. And if some legit community domains (such as Bleeping) pull together and provide clean download alternatives for popular freewares, "we" could run CNET out of traffic-business and hugely increase "our" (if I dare include myself as a community member) traffic to the point that it might actually offer a significant payoff to the powers of good. ZERO ADWARE INVOLVED. (But the adfvckrz would probably attack Bleeping out of spite at that point -- which is disgusting, but probably accurate.)
Just a thought...
However, I stated that I really didn't want for this conversation to be about malware, so please don't call me out for citations after the message that has already been conveyed.
I feel provoked. Sorry.
Getting back to graphics now...
- Back to top
#5
evanexempt
- Topic Starter
-
- Members
- 18 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 10:34 PM
Posted 07 April 2015 - 09:02 PM
Just for grins: Are there any open-freeware applications that can read .PSD files?
What about .AI or .SVG(openvector) files?
I know Adobe files are proprietary by nature, but that doesn't stop third-party apps from offering .PDF support. (But that's "different", right?)
Are .PSD files just too complex and huge for other wares to untangle? I honestly don't even know off-hand what Gimp's range of file associations are.
Just assumed that proprietary file formats were off-limits, in most cases. I remember Irfanview's associations seemed pretty broad, at least for the basic image stuff... but that was several years ago.
As a typography-graphics person myself, I am most curious about wares that can move between image and vector format easily. I am assuming Gimp is the lightest way to do this type of vector/graphix toggling, at this point. (Irfanview doesn't do vector format...right?)
But it would really be nice if there were a less bulky way to do image/vector edits without having to convert files or switch wares (i.e. Photoshop SmartObjects -- though these still kind of sukc to use).
Just to be clear on where I stand,I am a creative cloud paying customer for nearly two years running, and I stand by both Photoshop and Illustrator as primary composition tools. But there are some quick jobs for which I would rather not even mess with the hassle of opening these processor-hungry Adobe wares. (even with the fastest cpu I've ever owned)
I guess I am wondering: What is the next step in freeware for advanced visual-media editing? And will there be options for someone like me who is willing to pay for Adobe Creative Crowd but doesn't always care to use use their resource-greedy wares?
- Back to top
#6
rp88
-
- Members
- 3,476 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Not Telling
- Local time: 03:34 AM
Posted 08 April 2015 - 07:57 AM
I'm pretty sure GIMP can read psd files.
Back on this site, for a while anyway, been so busy the last year.
My systems:2 laptops, intel i3 processors, windows 8.1 installed on the hard-drive and linux mint 17.3 MATE installed to USB
- Back to top
#7
Aura
-
- Malware Response Team
- 19,707 posts
- OFFLINE
Bleepin' Special Ops
- Gender: Male
- Local time: 11:34 PM
Posted 08 April 2015 - 08:53 AM
GIMP can indeed read and use .PSD files.
http://www.gimp.org/features/
Also, I think that only Grinler can accept a such decision and I'm not sure, but I think the owner/creator of the program must want the website to become a mirror for it.
Senior DFIR Consultant | @SecurityAura
My timezone UTC-05:00 (East. Coast). If I didn't reply to you within 48 hours, please send me a PM.
- Back to top
#8
Animal
-
- Staff Emeritus
- 35,905 posts
- OFFLINE
Bleepin' Animinion
- Gender: Male
- Location: Where You Least Expect Me To Be
- Local time: 07:34 PM
Posted 08 April 2015 - 03:47 PM
Also, I think that only Grinler can accept a such decision and I'm not sure, but I think the owner/creator of the program must want the website to become a mirror for it.
That is indeed the case, Site Owner Grinler makes the final call on what's hosted or mirrored here. As well as the owner of the content must be willing to let us mirror or host the software.
The Internet is so big, so powerful and pointless that for some people it is a complete substitute for life.
Andrew Brown (1938-1994)
A learning experience is one of those things that say, "You know that thing you just did? Don't do that." Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
"Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination circles the world." Albert Einstein (1879-1955)
Follow BleepingComputer on: Facebook | Twitter | Google+
- Back to top
#9
PDN
-
- Members
- 498 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Location: MD USA
- Local time: 11:34 PM
Posted 01 April 2018 - 04:59 PM
I noticed dates so I am way behind but I was looking over alternatives to Windows Photo and Irfanview popped up. I know how popular it is.
I have had about 2 viruses in over 20 years and this was one. I cannot tie the two together but would check before downloading.
I will never forget the experience about 15 years ago and was alerted to the name while looking for other programs.
I am all set now, btw but I'm gun shy when it comes to this download.
On second thought I did not want to malign a program so tried to remove my post but was unable to.
- Back to top
#10
SuspiciousMinds
-
- Members
- 3 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 08:34 PM
Posted 26 May 2021 - 05:09 PM
I am even later to this party than PDN, but thought I would mention that I've had a two-OS license to PMView (https://www.pmview.com) for a long time now -- could be in excess of 15 years at this point. I consider it a superb, light-duty photo editor. It is not free, but still inexpensive. Even better, over all of this time with various periodic version updates, I don't recall the developer ever asking for additional payment. That is an old-school model, on the endangered list in today's era of annual software licenses ! I also have had (an older version of) IrfanView installed on a couple computers. Never had any issues with that. Of course, you can and should run any package you may be concerned about by VirusTotal. If there was malware or any unwanted stowaways onboard, some of their 58 regular scanners should detect and flag it. In the case of possible false positives -- which have been noted for worthy, entirely legitimate packages like with several of the the NirSoft programs -- consider the overall quantity of hits and whether they come from the major players (Sophos, Eset, Bitdefender, McAfee) or from the much lesser also-rans.
PMView has a very small footprint, high ease of use, negligible learning curve. (But don't expect anything like a full-fledged PhotoShop sorta deal.) I'm going to check as to whether there is a portable edition of IrfanView.
- Back to top
#11
SuspiciousMinds
-
- Members
- 3 posts
- OFFLINE
- Local time: 08:34 PM
Posted 26 May 2021 - 05:24 PM
There is:
https://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/irfanview_portable
(Where all the best portable format apps seem to come from.)
This one drew a 2 / 65 score @VT, from what I consider among the "No Names" of the AV field. Personally, I'd take those odds . . . .
- Back to top
#12
PDN
-
- Members
- 498 posts
- OFFLINE
- Gender: Male
- Location: MD USA
- Local time: 11:34 PM
Posted 26 May 2021 - 05:28 PM
I would just like to comment that much time has passed since that old post and I use Virus Total regularly.
I trandfr photos from my iPhone to my external drives as I have family albums. other than that I do no photography or art but with You well.
- Back to top
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/572539/irfanno-a-contentious-suggestion-for-the-bleeping-downloads-section/
Post a Comment for "Is It Safe and Easy to Use Ifranview"