Image Hiding by Using Genetic Algorithm and LSB Substitution

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a new image hiding method by using LSB substitution for improving stego-image quality. In this method, we try to transform the secret image into meaningless picture by using a bijective mapping function so that the difference of embedded secret image bits and LSB bits of host image pixels is of minimum possible value. This operation results in the encryption of the secret image. Thus, if grabbers detect existence of the secret image into stego-image, they won’t be able to recognize the secret image exactly. As a result, the security of our method will be increased. We use genetic algorithm for setting parameters of bijective mapping function to obtain the best condition in distribution of the pixels. We compare the our proposed method with LSB substitution method and Chang et al.’s method. The experimental results show that our proposed method has enhanced both the quality and the security of stego-image by using LSB substitution method. In addition, our method results are approximately close to the results of Chang et al.’s method.KeywordsCryptographyGenetic AlgorithmImage HidingSteganography