Secure Pixel-Level Data Concealment: A Novel Approach for Securing Black and White Images within Color Images

Abstract

In the era of rampant digital data transfer, concerns regarding the secure and reliable transmission of information persist, with numerous attempts at concealing and transporting data globally. Despite the plethora of existing techniques, issues persist, ranging from misinterpretation to malicious misuse of data during the transfer process. To address some of these challenges, this research introduces an innovative method centered on the modification of pixel data to embed concealed information. The primary objective is to alter pixel values in a manner that accommodates the storage of data pertaining specifically to black and white image pixel data. The proposed technique is designed to exclusively encode information related to two-pixel values, with careful adjustments made to ensure the masked image remains non-deceptive. Pixel values undergo subtle alterations to mitigate susceptibility issues associated with corner values, particularly at the border values of 254 and 255 for RGB values. The developed method presents a simplified yet robust data hiding technique, allowing the storage of black and white images within color images while achieving a high Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) compared to standard ".png" images. Crucially, the developed approach addresses the challenge of minimizing drastic changes in pixel color, enhancing the overall fidelity of the stego image. Furthermore, the versatility of the proposed method is showcased by its potential to accommodate more than three images when the stego image size is appropriately large and segmented. A practical and efficient solution has been contributed to the persistent issues associated with secure data transfer, presenting a novel methodology for concealing black and white images within color images.