Efficient quantum steganography scheme using inverted pattern approach

Abstract

Capacity and invisibility are two targets of the methods for quantum image steganography. To hide large messages into the quantum cover image and remain invisible is still a challenge. In this paper, we propose an efficient quantum image steganography scheme, which can be finalized by applying an optimal pixel adjustment process to the quantum secret image (constructed by k binary images) before it is embedded. In particular, each pixel of quantum secret image will be inverted or not inverted before it is embedded. The decisions are recorded by a quantum key image for extracting data. Then, it is accomplished by embedding the quantum secret image into the k least significant bits of the quantum cover image using the basic quantum gates and composite quantum modules. Because all quantum operations are invertible, the extraction procedure is the inverse of the embedding procedure. Obviously, since the value of k can be changed, the proposed quantum steganography scheme can provide variable embedding capacity. Numerical simulation and theoretical analysis have shown that our method has outperformed other similar schemes in terms of the visual quality and embedding capacity. In addition, it also provides a lower computational complexity than its classical counterpart and other quantum steganography schemes.