AN EFFICIENT ALGORITHMIC SOLUTION FOR HIGH PAYLOAD GOOD IMPERCEPTIBILITY HYBRID IMAGE STEGANOGRAPHY

This paper presents hiding one to eight gray images or texts (secret information) inside color image (cover image) based on Least Significant Bits (LSB) algorithm. The main idea is to insert the secret message (one to eight texts or one to eight gray images) in the three LSB of the cover image (color image). The color cover image RGB model (R channel, G channel and B channel) is separated into three cover images (the red cover, green cover, and blue cover). Each one of these three cover images is used to hide secret messages (gray image (two secret images in R channel, three secret images in G channel and three secret images in B channel) or text). The experiments and comparative studies show that the algorithms are characterized by many features of the ability of hiding huge data, and then the ability of extracting secret message without errors. Beside the reconstructed image, has efficacies (to human acquaintance) according to peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and mean square error (MSE), also retain both the explicitness and the characteristics of the both secret message and cover image.

Steganography is a method of hiding sensitive information within an ordinary file to avoid detection. When the file is received, the hidden information is extracted from the original file. Various types of files can be used to conceal the information, including images, audio files, video files, and text files. This research paper focuses on the use of image files as the medium. To create a stego-image, a secret image is embedded into a cover image. Both the cover and secret images are subjected to a Daubechies 3 Discrete Wavelet Transformation (DWT), then encrypted using Arnold's Cat Map algorithm and fused using a simple alpha blending technique with the cover image. DWT enhances the invisibility of hidden information, making it more challenging to detect by visual inspection or statistical analysis. Arnold’s cat map adds an extra layer of security, making it more difficult for an attacker to extract the message. Alpha blending helps to maintain the visual quality and integrity of the cover image, reducing the chances of noticeable artifacts or anomalies that may arise due to the embedding process. The resulting stego-image appears visually like the original cover image, making it less suspicious to potential attackers. Experimental results have been made on multiple area such as the best value of alpha, which DWT family to use, and different combinations of images as cover and payload images. The results demonstrate that our proposed hybrid model achieves a high level of security, robustness, and imperceptibility in image steganography. Moreover, it outperforms existing methods in terms of image quality metrics, such as achieving a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) value of up to 70.8 and a Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) value of up to 0.98982. These metrics indicate that the stego-image retains a remarkable level of visual fidelity and similarity to the cover image, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the steganography technique.

In this study, the StegoCrypt technique is proposed using a combination of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and One-Time Pad (OTP). Cover image with size 512 ∗ 512 transformed with Wavelet transformation of four levels. For the first level to the third level, the subband LL is selected to obtain LL3 subband. At fourth level, the LL3 is then transformed into HH4 subband with help of wavelet transformation. This is done to gain strength and imperceptibility to the stego image. The secret message that is used is a binary image with a size of 32 ∗ 32. Secret image is encrypted with OTP before it is inserted in the host image. To test the quality of imperceptibility, stego images were measured using PSNR and MSE. While the quality of secret image reconstruction of extraction and decryption results are measured by using NCC. Robustness of stego image is also tested with JPEG compression attacks. From the test results can be concluded that the proposed method works well and get a better quality stego image. The secret image reconstruction results are also perfect as well as robust to JPEG compression attacks.

One of the container media that is available and popular is the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format image. This article aims to determine the effect of Quality Factor on the secret message capacity of JPEG image steganography and stego image quality. The quality of an image can actually be seen subjectively with the human eye, but this is relative between each individual. Because the assessment of the human eye varies from person to person. In addition, the effect of Quality Factor on secret message capacity is not yet known whether it has an impact. Therefore, in this study the Quality Factor is used to objectively see the secret message capacity of the JPEG image steganography and the quality of the stego image. The parameter used to determine the quality of an image is the Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). PSNR will compare the quality of the original image (before steganography) with the stego image. The test results show that the Q Factor effect can affect the secret message capacity of the JPEG image steganography and the stego image quality. The bigger the Q Factor, the more the message capacity is generated. The greater the Q factor, the better the quality of the resulting stego image.

In spatial domain image steganography, Least Significant Bits (LSB) of cover image pixels are used to embed a secret message due to minimal distortion and higher payload capacity. In this paper, we have introduced an exclusive-OR (XOR) based encoding of encrypted secret message bits using varying higher-order pixel intensity bits. Encoding and LSB embedding is done block-wise by dividing the cover image into a number of blocks. The secret message is first encrypted using symmetric key cryptography and then encoded those encrypted bits by XORing them with randomly selected higher-order pixel bis of the cover image to obscure the secret bits further. Next, an inversion technique is applied to the encoded bits block-wise to keep the LSB bit changes to a minimum. The stego-key consists of the symmetric encryption key and the encode-key containing parameter settings such as the number_of_blocks, starting_block, start_pixel_offset, block_selection_rule, etc. This stego-key is shared prior to the actual communication using public-key cryptography to ensure the key’s authenticity and integrity. The extraction process does not require the cover image; the stego-image and the stego-key are sufficient. Experimental results show the visual imperceptibility along with improved image quality metrics such as Mean Square Error (MSE), Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Normalized Cross-Correlation (NCC), and Structural Similarity (SSIM) index in comparison to other well-known techniques. The average PSNR value remains above 51dB, even with 90% of the capacity utilized. The proposed scheme successfully eludes many standard steganalysis attacks such as histogram-based analysis (PDH), chi-square based embed probability test, Regular and Singular groups (RS) analysis, sample pair test, etc. on the tested stego-images.

A reversible extended secret image sharing scheme based on Chinese remainder theorem

The technique for hiding any information in other information is known as Steganography. According to the technique of Least Significant Bit encryption, secret message is embedded in the least significant bits of the cover image and identification of secret message in the cover image becomes very difficult. This method can be applied for embedding secret messages in many formats like 8-bit, 24-bit or gray scale. This paper compares the methods of LSB encryption for different bits and analyse the value of RMSE and PSNR for each type of embedding. This paper compares the results of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 bit encryption and proposes the best encryption both in the sense of quality of stego and retrieved secret image. Here 0-bit, 1-bit, 7-bit and 8-bit embedding techniques are not considered. The 0-bit will not embed any secret image. The 8-bit will not have even single bits for storing cover image. The 1 bit and 7 bit is inadequate for embedding and storing the cover image. The 1-bit and 7-bit will result extreme bad quality of retrieved secret image and stego respectively. The 1-bit and 7-bit will result extreme bad quality of retrieved secret image and stego respectively.

Histogram-shifting-imitated reversible data hiding

WITHDRAWN: Contrasting the performance metrics of discrete transformations on digital image steganography using artificial intelligence

Steganography is the practice of hiding data, such as images, videos, or text, within a cover image without it being detectable by the human eye. Several factors, such as the capacity, security, and robustness of the technique, are essential when transferring information using this method. In this study, we propose a new approach to image steganography that improves the Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique by utilizing images of 24 bits in each pixel. Improving the capacity and security of LSB-based steganography requires a combination of techniques, such as indirect embedding, embedding in multiple channels, and applying cryptographic and compression techniques. This approach conducts by encrypting each compressed secret message bit with the most significant bit of the red channel and then saving the output bit (hidden bit) in the least significant bit of the (green/blue) channel according to the row value (odd/ even). To further security, the suggested approach uses multi-level encryption; employs RSA to encrypt the secret message before applying the Huffman compression and encrypting the hidden bit by (XOR/XNOR) in the embedding method based on the row value of the pixel. Meanwhile, it is planned to use the Huffman coding technique to shorten the length of the encrypted message that will be inserted in the cover image. For the color photos in this work, the standard images were acquired from a standard dataset (USC-SIPI). The suggested approach performs better when measured in terms of mean square error (MSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and comparison to findings from related prior efforts.

Internet proliferation and technological progress have made multimedia information quickly accessible, but they have also posed a threat to privacy and security. Researchers have been interested in digital images due to their capacity to store large amounts of data due to the possibility of protecting sensitive information through digital steganography. Despite their visual imperceptibility, robustness, and ability to embed information, existing image steganography techniques face several challenges. To overcome these challenges, a novel image steganography approach based on a blind model strategy has been proposed for hiding covert messages. The model consists of two stages: embedding and extracting. In the embedding stage, a suitable cover image is selected using the FAST feature point detector. A text message is then converted to a QR code and embedded in the feature points' neighbors using knight tour steps in a chess game. The result is a stego image that appears identical to the original cover image but contains the secret message in its feature points' neighbors. The extracting stage involves finding the feature points and extracting the QR code to obtain the original text message. Since the feature points were not altered during the embedding process, the proposed model is known as a blind model. This approach eliminates the need for the original cover image during the extracting stage. The proposed model was evaluated using several metrics, including the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM). The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can effectively embed and extract secret messages with high accuracy while maintaining the visual quality of the cover image with 100% of (SSIM), and 73.48 as an average of (PSNR).

Steganography is a process to conceal the existence of a message. Image Steganography involves hiding the message onto a cover image to obtain a resultant stego image. This paper discusses a procedure for hiding coloured message images onto coloured cover images using a lossy Image Steganography technique. The secret images undergo Discrete Cosine Transformation, quantization and AES encryption before embedding using the Least Significant Bit embedding (LSB) technique onto the cover image. Finally, Peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index measurement (SSIM), zero normalized cross-correlation (ZNCC) are used for comparing the cover and stego images as well as the extracted and original images.

AFcIHNet: Attention feature-constrained network for single image information hiding

Steganography is one of the techniques that can be used to hide information in any file types such as audio, image, text and video format. The image steganography is about concealing the hidden data into digital images that alter the pixel of the image. This paper will examine how steganography affect the quality of digital images. Two types of images were selected and different capacities of text documents from 4 kB to 45 kB were used as secret messages. The secret message is embedded in the least significant bits of the images and the distortion is measured using peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR). The results show that for small capacity, it is possible to embed in the second most significant bit (LSB 6) while maintaining a good quality image of more than 30 dB, while for a bigger capacity up to 45 kB, embedding in the fourth least significant bit is possible.

Steganography is the art of hiding secret data in a medium whereas visual-cryptography is a cryptographic technique where a full image is encrypted. The security of image steganography depends on the secret key set which is used for embedding the secret image. If the secret key is exposed, the secret image can be retrieved. To solve this security issue we propose a new type of steganography method using visual cryptography. In this method, text and image are used as a secret message and image for the cover object. 24-bit RGB color images are used as both secret and cover images. In this method, we use a new image namely share1 which converts a secret image to a totally different image called share2 image. Typically, knowing the extraction method, people can retrieve the secret message easily. A pseudorandomly generated image is used as a key for visual encryption and this ensures the extra layer of security. By this proposed method, we ensure more secured image steganography.