Efficient X-box Mapping in Stego-image Using Four-bit Concatenation

Abstract

The approach of hiding the secret information in the covert image is called image steganography. Its goods like strength and defense is broadly used for covert communication, where the secret message is used to hide in the covert image. The least-significant-bit (LSB)-based method is a popular type of steganographic algorithms in the spatial domain. In image steganography the LSB based method is used extensively for hiding the secret data due to its simplicity and high embedding capability. In an existing method for hiding the secret data in the LSB substitution method four X-boxes are used to hide two secret bits in each pixel of the cover image. In this method using two X-box, 4 bits of secret message is hidden. This enhances the security of the secret message, with no movement of the PSNR value of the cover image.