Images attached to issues, merge requests or comments do not require authentication to be viewed if someone knows the direct URL. This direct URL contains a random 32-character ID that prevents unauthorized people from guessing the URL to an image containing sensitive information. We don't enable authentication because these images need to be visible in the body of notification emails, which are often read from email clients that are not authenticated with GitSwarm, like Outlook, Apple Mail, or the Mail app on your mobile device.
Note that non-image attachments do require authentication to be viewed.