Run strings image.png | grep "CTF" . This searches the entire file for readable text patterns. 3. Steganography Tools (The Deep Dive)
If you are currently staring at a download link, follow this workflow: the raw file. Check Strings and Metadata first. Run strings image
Upload to an if you don't want to install tools. Look for Hidden Offsets using Binwalk. the image will look normal
If the flag is stored as plain text within the file's binary code, you can pull it out instantly. The strings command (built into Linux/macOS). Run strings image
If the flag is embedded using LSB (Least Significant Bit) encoding, the image will look normal, but the data is tucked into the pixels. StegSolve or zsteg .