Improved Message Payload and Security of Image Steganography using 3-3-2 LSB and Dual Encryption

Abstract

This research proposed a steganography technique on RGB true color image using LSB 3-3-2 method. LSB 3-3-2 is a message embedding technique on 3 Least Significant Bit (LSB) on the red and green channel, while in the blue channel only 2 LSB. Embedding messages on blue channels is less than red and green, which aims to maintain the quality of imperceptibility of stego image with maximum message payload is 2.67 bits per pixel (bpp). To improve message security, dual encryption methods are used, ie Caesar and Vigenere ciphers combined with bitwise and operator and bitwise or operators on the embedding process. Based on the experimental results obtained a satisfactory average value of PSNR is about 43dB.