ZORA PAYLOAD

This tool embeds any file type (documents, executables, archives, etc.) into PNG images using steganography. The primary use case is to bypass Zora's media-only file storage restrictions. Zora only accepts image/video files, but by encoding your files as PNGs, you can store any data type on their platform. The encoded PNG appears as a normal image but contains your hidden file that can be extracted later.

The tool uses PNG's chunk-based format to embed data. It stores your file as custom private chunks (zINF for metadata, zDAT for data) within a valid PNG file. The binary data is stored directly without base64 encoding for optimal efficiency. The PNG signature and standard chunks (IHDR, IDAT, IEND) remain valid, so image viewers display it normally while our decoder extracts the hidden file.

The tool supports files up to 5.5GB with adaptive chunk sizing. Small files (<10MB) use 64-256KB chunks for responsive UI. Medium files (10-100MB) use 256KB-512KB chunks. Large files (100MB-2GB) use 512KB-2MB chunks for speed. Very large files (>2GB) use up to 4MB chunks for maximum efficiency. Encoding time: <10MB is instant, 100-500MB takes 1-2 minutes, 500MB+ takes several minutes. Your browser's available memory is the practical limit.

After encoding, download the generated PNG. Then upload it to Zora as you would any image. Zora's system will accept it as a valid PNG image. To retrieve your file later, simply download the PNG from Zora, load it into this decoder, validate it, and download your original file. Keep the Zora URL safe to access your data later.

All encoding/decoding happens locally in your browser - nothing is uploaded to our servers. However, the embedded data is NOT encrypted. Anyone who knows about this tool can extract your files from the PNG. For sensitive data, encrypt your files before encoding them. Additionally, be aware that Zora's platform may have its own data retention and privacy policies.

All file types are supported: documents (PDF, DOCX, TXT), archives (ZIP, RAR, 7Z), executables (EXE, APP), media (MP4, MP3, AVI), code files, databases, and more. The tool treats all files as binary data, so format doesn't matter. The decoder will return your file exactly as it was encoded, preserving the original filename and format.

Decoding may fail if: (1) The PNG was re-encoded by image editing software that strips custom chunks, (2) The file was corrupted during transfer, (3) It's not an encoded PNG from this tool, (4) The PNG was compressed by a service that removes metadata chunks. Always download PNGs directly from Zora without any intermediate processing. Use the "Validate" button first to check integrity.

For best performance: (1) Use a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge), (2) Close other tabs to free memory, (3) Be patient during encoding - the progress bar shows real-time status, (4) For files over 1GB, ensure you have sufficient RAM, (5) Use the "Hide File Details" option for slightly faster encoding, (6) Consider compressing files (ZIP) before encoding for faster processing.

Use the "Validate" button before downloading to verify the PNG contains valid encoded data. The tool checks PNG structure, verifies chunk integrity with CRC32 checksums, and confirms all data chunks are present. For critical files, compare file sizes before and after encoding/decoding, or use external checksum tools (MD5, SHA-256) on the original and decoded files to ensure perfect integrity.