It looks like a new image standard has been released called JPEG XR.  It is Microsoft’s HD photo standard and after being reviewed, is now considered the new standard of JPEG pictures.  While that may sound great to some people (others probably won’t even notice any differences), how will this new standard affect your computer’s security.  Granted, it is only a picture, but if alternate data streams can be accomplished through traditional JPEG images, will the same be viable with the new JPEG XR or could something worse be accomplished?

Once the process is done (it takes about a year), JPEG XR will be the new version of JPEG, with newer software and operating systems, plus top cameras (and, if we’re lucky, all cameras) supporting the format. Adobe likes the format, and cameras supporting it are supposed to hit in the middle of next year.

Why should you like JPEG XR? Because right now, most cameras offer either RAW or JPEG. RAW changes from camera manufacturer to manufacturer, so you can’t just share the files, and JPEG is an aging standard that doesn’t have the greatest quality in the world (though it still looks damn good at high quality levels). JPEG XR will bring JPEG closer to the level of RAW, but should still work with all computers and software, making it more shareable and widely supported, while looking a whole lot better.[more]

Tags: Computer Protection