Abstract
The goal of image steganographic methods considers three main key issues: high embedding capacity, good visual symmetry/quality, and security. In this paper, a hybrid data hiding method combining the right-most digit replacement (RMDR) with an adaptive least significant bit (ALSB) is proposed to provide not only high embedding capacity but also maintain a good visual symmetry. The cover-image is divided into lower texture (symmetry patterns) and higher texture (asymmetry patterns) areas and these textures determine the selection of RMDR and ALSB methods, respectively, according to pixel symmetry. This paper has three major contributions. First, the proposed hybrid method enhanced the embedding capacity due to efficient ALSB utilization in the higher texture areas of cover images. Second, the proposed hybrid method maintains the high visual quality because RMDR has the closest selection process to generate the symmetry between stego and cover pixels. Finally, the proposed hybrid method is secure against statistical regular or singular (RS) steganalysis and pixel difference histogram steganalysis because RMDR is capable of evading the risk of RS detection attacks due to pixel digits replacement instead of bits. Extensive experimental tests (over 1500+ cover images) are conducted with recent least significant bit (LSB)-based hybrid methods and it is demonstrated that the proposed hybrid method has a high embedding capacity (800,019 bits) while maintaining good visual symmetry (39.00% peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR)).
Highlights
Internet evolution has led to the rapid transmission of digital content such as images, audio, text, and videos
We have presented a novel hybrid steganographic method with high payload and good visual symmetry, based on the adaptive least significant bit (LSB) and right-most digit replacement (RMDR) methods
In order to conceal secret data, texture areas of the cover images are exploited according to the absolute difference of pixel pairs
Summary
Internet evolution has led to the rapid transmission of digital content such as images, audio, text, and videos. Data embedding applications have divided steganographic methods into reversible steganography, so the proposed work carried out in this paper is based on the spatial domain. Hybrid embedding methods utilized the advantages of existing singular steganographic approaches; for example, high payload of LSB and good imperceptibility of PVD methods are employed in [27,28,29,30,31]. Existing hybrid methods are unable to achieve simultaneous high payload, good visual quality, and undetectability (at least lower bpp) in one steganographic solution. Motivated by the above facts, our main goal is to propose a hybrid steganographic method, which provides a high embedding capacity while maintaining good visual symmetry and structural undetectability against RS and difference histogram steganalysis.
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