Are Animated Gifs Really Dangerous to Messages Boards?

[Digital Guerrilla]

I was just wondering as on another message board (website) the Admin stated that having animated gifs in your signature is dangerous but he would not give a reason as to why or maybe he did not have a reason at all. Are animated gifs really dangerous (security wise) or not can someone please explain. 

[Andrew]

I don't know if they are very dangerous, but they are extremely annoying especially if large in filesize and if flash (change frames) fast enough if they are different colours etc.

[Digital Guerrilla]

Annoying is one thing to say but to say dangerous security wise is another and why I do not understand. He asked if there were any improvements members would like to see on the site I suggested animated gifs being use (either avatar or in your signature) and he was like they were this huge security risk but he never explained why. I have never really heard of it because well most sites I visited allow animated gifs in some form.

[Megashrap]

I don't know if they are very dangerous, but they are extremely annoying especially if large in filesize and if flash (change frames) fast enough if they are different colours etc.

I hated them most back when I had dial-up.  Never heard of them being dangerous though.

[Kirby Gotenks absorbed]

Ask him why they're dangerous.

[gunner154]

Maybe they were dangerous because members would complain and threaten to boycott the forum? ;)

[Digital Guerrilla]

Well I am not sure about that gunner154 but what ever the reason is he is not elaborating about it.

[veK]

I don't know why the other thread was locked by the author or got locked by a moderator (or let's say THE moderator), but to all you guys who are still wondering why gifs can be a threat, here's the (or let's say AN answer):

http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=2997&rss

and for even more details, here's a pdf:

http://www.scanit.be/uploads/php-file-upload.pdf

[gryphon]

THE moderator didn't do anything. Until now that is. :)