Store a Rar or Zip in an Image File

An interesting little Windows hack, using "copy" to store a ZIP or Rar archive inside of a PNG or JPEG image file. Allowing you to later extract it with WinRAR archiver, while still seeing the image when you open normally.

Steps

  1. Attain the files you wish to store and deposit them on your desktop or in a new folder.
  2. Select them all, right click, and choose "Add to archive...".
  3. In the field "Archive name" type in anything you want, such as "archive.rar".
  4. Choose either ZIP or Rar as the archive format. Rar is highly recommended.
  5. Press "OK".
  6. Choose the image you wish to be displayed when the JPG is opened normally, and place it in the same directory.
  7. Open CMD, navigate to the directory and type the following (without quotes):
  8. copy /b Your image ext + Your archive.ext OUTPUT.ext
  9. " Your IMAGE" should be the name under which you choose to file the image you have chosen.
  10. If done correctly, you should be able to view your normal JPG, and open it with WinRAR to the see contents of the Rar file you added.
  11. Please proceed to read Tips and Warning section.

Tips

  • The display image (Your image.ext) must be the same as the output extension (Cannot use JPG and output to PNG or JPG and output to PNG)
  • WinZIP cannot open Rar, so if you are giving the file to a user who does not have WinRAR, choose ZIP as the archive
  • Use only PNG, GIF or JPG, do not use BMP as they take up too much space

Warnings

  • Do not change the order of the files in CMD, it must be JPG + Rar and not Rar + JPG.
  • This doesn't work with software designed to search hard drives for hidden files and folders and doesn't mean it's foolproof. It doesn't take the CIA, FBI or MI5 to find your files and get the archives, any loser can do it.

Things You'll Need

  • WinRAR archiver or WinZIP (WinZIP is not covered here)
  • Some files to put in your archive
  • A cover file for your output file
  • Microsoft Windows (only tested on Windows 2000, XP,Vista and 7)

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