A New Approach of Steganography on Image Metadata

Abstract

In this paper, we introduce a novel method, Steganography on Image Metadata (SIM), to tackle the problem of robustness modification in steganography. The SIM method works by embedding messages into the metadata storage space of digital media. Metadata is information embedded in a file that explains the file's content. The advantage of this method is that it does not alter the pixel values in the image, ensuring no degradation in media quality, and the secret message remains secure even when robustness manipulations are applied to the stego-image. To enhance data security, this paper also suggests using Fernet cryptography for message encryption during the embedding process into the cover-image. According to experimental evaluations, the SIM technique can attain a maximum PSNR value of 100 dB and an outstanding MSE value of 0. All robustness manipulation issues in steganography can be effectively addressed using the SIM method. Test results demonstrate that the SIM method can withstand symmetric and asymmetric cropping manipulations down to a pixel size of 1x1, and the message can still be extracted. Testing with image rotation manipulation also proves that the message can be successfully extracted even when the stego-image is rotated up to 180 degrees. Experiments with image resizing manipulation also confirm that the message can be recovered even when the stego-image undergoes up to 90% compression. Testing with color effects applied to the image also does not affect message extraction results.