While that's happened before and may be technically true, it's extremely rare (as in, I can only think of one virus spread this way and it was basically a proof of concept that wouldn't realistically spread). Traditionally only executable files can spread a virus, but some classes of bad bugs in software can make non-executable data trigger a virus or other nastiness. If your software is up to date and you have antivirus installed, an image giving you a virus is basically not worth worrying about.

The bigger threat here is in people not noticing the file extension when they go to open a file (or Windows hiding that file extension). Always make sure you have file extensions shown, and be careful that the image you just downloaded is really an image before you open it.

One time when I was using Norton I ran into a virus. the virus entered my computer. Norton did catch and remove the virus within one minute. But there was already damage done to my computer. The damage would not let me restore it.

I now use Kaspersky after doing a lot of investigating. One time I was on a heavy virus site, (limewire.com). Kaspersky noticed a virus and stopped it from entering my computer.

Grandma's chicken soup. No virus can stand up to it!