Dual Stego Images Research Articles

Encoding with Combination Orientation Technique for RDH in Dual Stego Images

Abstract In this paper, initially, message intensities are used to create two encoding tables: an index and a code sequence. The table is then updated with $n$ secret data encoded into it. If the code sequence of the second encoding table matches the code sequence of the preceding or succeeding half of the two encoding tables, the second encoding table is folded. The folding is done when maximum intensity occurs in the utmost succeeding part of the two encoding tables. Finally, using the combination orientation approach, the encoded indices are embedded in the stego images. In the extraction phase, using the two stego images and the encoding with the combination orientation method, the encoded indices are obtained. The decoding is performed to extract the secret message as well as the cover image and there is no occurrence of overflow and underflow problems. It has a high visual quality and a high embedding capacity. The proposed technique achieved a maximum $\mathrm{PSNR}$ of $49.49$dB and a $648\ 242$-bit embedding capacity. When compared to traditional techniques, the experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms them.

Multi-Hider Reversible Data Hiding Using a Weighted Color Transfer and Modulus Operation

This paper proposes a multi-hider dual-image reversible data-hiding algorithm. Generating dual stego images, the proposed algorithm provides a high embedding capacity, exhibits high image quality, offers reversibility to restore the stego images, and suggests seven levels of secret message extraction. The message embedding in our algorithm contains two phases. In Phase-1, we embed an n-ary secret message vector followed by an m-ary secret message in each pixel using two distinct secret keys when rendering a new image from the source and target images using an optimal weighted color-transfer process. This phase produces a tentative stego image which exhibits a new color appearance, different from the input source image. In Phase-2, we introduce a weighted modulus operation to embed a k-ary secret message vector into a dual-pixel constructed from the tentative stego image. The message concealment is elaborately designed so that the hidden secret messages are intact. This phase produces dual stego images which carry three distinct secret messages. Using legitimate secret keys, an authorized receiver can extract one or parts of secret messages and recover the tentative stego color-transferred image without arousing any suspicion. The experimental results and analysis confirm that our scheme can resist RS and PVD steganalytic attacks. In addition, our algorithm provides both high embedding capacity and better image quality, outperforming its counterparts. To the best of our knowledge, our scheme is the first in the relevant literature that provides multi-hider reversible data hiding, thereby offering various levels of message extraction for secure data communication.

Asymmetric Orientation Combination for Reversible and Authenticable Data Hiding of Dual Stego-images

A dual-image-based reversible data hiding (RDH) scheme can conceal secret data into a cover image by creating two steganographic images. These two stego-images can cooperate to extract secret data and restore the cover image. This paper describes a generalization of the orientation combination technology for dual-image-based RDH. We first propose a full search algorithm to find the optimal set of the reversible orientation combinations. Based on the algorithm, the modification range of pixel values can be dynamically enlarged, and thus the embedding capacity becomes adjustable. In addition, an authentication algorithm is provided to detect tampered shadows based on a faithful one. Experimental results confirm that the proposed scheme can produce dual stego-images with a good visual quality. Furthermore, our method provides an adjustable payload. A lot more secret data can be embedded than with state-of-the-art methods, with a satisfactory image quality. Two steganalysis tools are applied to demonstrate the security level of the proposed scheme.

Dual stego-images Based Lossless Steganographic Scheme with Interval Scale Table

Lu et al. proposed a dual-image based hiding method uses the center folding strategy and the interval scale in 2018. Their method uses the variable k value to improve the hiding amount and image quality by setting the interval scale, where k is the total number of binary bits that a pixel can be hidden. However, the interval scale in the scheme is manually set, and different types of images need to be manually determined an appropriate interval scale. However, how to find a suitable interval scale is a difficult task. This paper automatically finds the most suitable interval scale table through the preprocessing process, and finds the optimal rules for different images. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively increase the amount of hiding payload while maintaining a good image quality.

Dual encoding approach with sequence folding for reversible data hiding in dual stego images

This paper proposes a dual encoding approach with sequence folding for reversible data hiding in dual stego images. This method initially encodes the secret data by creating two encoding tables that contain index as well as code sequence based on message intensities and the two encoding tables are updated. The code sequence in the second encoding table is folded if the preceding half or succeeding half of the two encoding tables gets matched. The folding is also done if the maximum intensity in the code of two encoding tables lies in the most succeeding end. The same encoding process is repeated for all message intensities. After encoding the message intensities, the encoded indices are embedded on the cover image to obtain the dual stego images. In the data extraction phase, the encoded indices are initially extracted and is decoded by using the dual decoding table. The behavior of the proposed data hiding is evaluated using the metrics such as embedding capacity, embedding rate, PSNR, and SSIM using the standard test images. Experimental verification reveals that the proposed data hiding algorithm shows outstanding performance when compared to the traditional dual stego based data hiding methods.

Improved center-folding based directional pixel value ordering for reversible data hiding scheme

In the context of Reversible Data Hiding scheme (RDH), twin image-based methods have been widely used in recent years. Pixels of any cover image block are organized in ascending order and then modify the largest and smallest pixel to embed hidden information exploiting Pixel Value Ordering (PVO) techniques. The DPVO (Directional PVO) has been utilized in three orientations such as a horizontal, vertical and crosswise line applied one after other. Meanwhile, center folding method compresses the valuable hidden information and then embedded it within pixels of dual stego-images through averaging. The proposed scheme embed more than two data bits positions in any row of the image block which is possible by introducing a new parameter α, which was not reported by other PVO based RDH schemes. The Embedding Capacity (EC) is improved without compromising visual quality when the secret information is embedded using the center folding strategy combining with the DPVO scheme. The proposed method uses different image block sizes to demonstrate the relationship between the data hiding rate with visual quality of the stego image. The experimental outcomes indicate that the suggested method is suitable to embed high amount of hidden data with a good visual quality, that can be assured by comparing with other state-of-the-art methods. The intended result highlighted some impressive sublime features in the field of image identification, manipulation and forgery detection in which technical life stunts. This system profits enormously from numerous aspects of government and the private sector including education, economic protection, defence, intellectual property rights.

Reversible data hiding exploiting Huffman encoding with dual images for IoMT based healthcare

Continuous technological progressions and huge investments are made for the realization of the various goals in the Internet of Things (IoT) driven networks. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) being a part of IoT has made human living smarter. It is revolutionizing the healthcare industry and is providing a smarter healthcare framework to the people. The generic IoMT framework consists of the major components i.e., data acquisition, communication gateways, and servers. Once the data is acquired, it is sent over the insecure channel where its authentication is essential before diagnosis. In this work, a dual image reversible data hiding technique with high capacity is proposed for IoMT based networks. First of all, the acquired secret data is preprocessed using the Huffman encoding strategy. Once Huffman coding is applied, a codebook of ‘d’ bits is generated for encoding the converted decimal values using indices. The value of these indices is divided into 2 parts and embedded into two visually similar images to obtain dual stego images. The scheme has provided a very high payload while maintaining good perceptual quality. The results obtained depict significant improvement compared to the state-of-the-art. The scheme provides an average (percentage) improvement in embedding capacity by 33.2%, with the improvisation of Peak Signal to Noise (PSNR) Ratio by 1.32%. The average value of the Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) is found to be 0.8873. The scheme is computationally efficient which makes it a better candidate to be used in IoMT driven networks.

Two level data encoding approach for reversible data hiding in dual Stego images

Due to high embedding capacity and security, dual stego-image based data hiding has become so popular. This paper proposes a two-level data encoding approach for reversible data hiding in dual stego-images. In the first level of encoding, the encoded intensities are estimated from the message intensities by assigning lower intensities to higher histogram data and higher intensities to lower histogram data. In the second level of encoding, the encoded intensities are folded by identifying the negative values to obtain the folded intensities. The folded intensities are embedded in the cover image to obtain the dual stego-images. The two-level data encoding process reduces the intensity of secret data which increases the quality of the two stego-images. During the extraction process, the folded intensities are extracted from the dual stego images. The folded intensities are decoded to encoded intensities and then to message intensities to obtain the secret data. This two-level data encoding approach increases the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) around 2 dB, and embedding rate (bpp) by 1%when compared to the traditional data hiding approach in dual stego images.

A new data encoding based on maximum to minimum histogram in reversible data hiding

ABSTRACTThe dual stego images based on data hiding has become popular in recent days. Since the embedding rate in dual stego images is very high. This paper proposes a new data encoding method based on maximum to the minimum histogram in reversible data hiding. This method estimates the encoded intensity from the message intensity and embeds the encoded intensity in the cover image. The stego image quality decreases the intensity of the hidden data which is high. The intensity of the data must be kept low to maintain a high-quality stego image. It is achieved using data encoding. Therefore, the proposed method uses new data encoding which converts the higher histogram data to lower intensity and the lower histogram data to higher intensity during the data embedding process. In the extraction process, the encoded intensities are decoded to message intensities to obtain the original data. The proposed data hiding approach has improved in terms of image quality (PSNR), structure similarity index measurements and embedding rate.

Authenticable reversible data hiding scheme with less distortion in dual stego-images

In reversible data hiding, dual image-based data hiding methods are recently proposed, in which two stego-images are generated after embedding the secret data. In this paper, a new reversible data hiding method is proposed to provide less distortion and integrity of forgery modification in dual stego-images. The modulus function is used to generate four pixel pairs in a sub-block of the cover image. The gap function is used to obtain two pixel pairs from four pixel pairs to maintain less distortion, and the parity bit function is applied to prevent forgery modification attack from the unauthorized party. On the receiver side, the secret data can be extracted and the cover image can be also recovered from the dual stego-images. The experimental results show that the proposed method has strength on embedding capacity and visual image quality.

Reversible data hiding in dual stego-images using frequency-based encoding strategy

Reversible data hiding methods can embed secret data into multimedia to prevent attacks from hackers. Reversible data hiding methods based on multiple stego-images have been proposed extensively in...

Dual image based reversible data hiding method using neighbouring pixel value differencing

Dual image based reversible data hidings are recently proposed where dual copies of a cover image are used to embed the secret data. In this paper, a novel reversible data hiding method based on neighbouring pixel value differencing is proposed to increase embedding capacity with a good image quality. The mean value of neighbouring pixels and the difference values are used to decide the size of embedding bits per the sub-block. The receiver can extract the secret data and recover the cover image from dual stegoimages. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a higher capacity and still a good image quality where it could embed 767,922 bits and maintain 45.58 and 45.33 dB for dual images.