Data hiding in digital images using a partial optimization technique based on the classical LSB method

Abstract

This paper presents a new partial optimization approach for the least significant bit (LSB) data hiding technique that can be used for protecting any secret information or data. A deterioration effect of as little as possible in an image is intended using the LSB data hiding technique and this is well realized utilizing the proposed partial optimization approach achieving the same data embedding bit rates. In the proposed approach, all of the image pixels are classified into 8 regions and then the 8 distinct ordering codings are applied to each region by the developed partial optimization encoder. Thus, the most effective outcome that has been obtained from the 8 regions means that the number of the altered bits is kept minimized. Hence, the minimal values that have been attained from the 8 regions enable decoding that ensures relatively small distortions on the extracted cover image.