Least Significant Bit Substitution Method Research Articles

An interpolation based steganographic technique with least-significant-bit and pixel value differencing in a pixel block

Over the <span lang="EN-US">past few years, in order to improve the hiding capacity and the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) value, several steganographic techniques have been developed. Steganography has become a popular technique to transmit secret data through any medium. In image steganography, the human eye cannot easily identify the hidden data which is embedded into the image. Small changes are also not detected by the human eye. High hidden capacity along with high visual quality is provided by the pixel value differencing (PVD) method. This paper first proposes the method of interpolation between the pixel blocks and then applies the least-significant-bit (LSB) substitution technique with the PVD method. At the starting phase, the original image is fixedto a 2x2 block, then the nearest neighbor interpolation (NNI) technique is implemented. In the next phase, the upper left pixel isembedded by the k-bit LSB substitution method along with hidden data. The newly generated neighbouring pixel value is measured. Thus, data is hidden from three directions. Through this paper using two different range tables, the new algorithm is proposed. We observed that in both cases, PSNR and the hiding capacity are improved.</span>

A Novel Steganography Technique for Digital Images Using the Least Significant Bit Substitution Method

Communication has become a lot easier in this era of technology, development of highspeed computer networks, and the inexpensive uses of Internet. Therefore, data transmission has become vulnerable to and unsafe from different external attacks. Every communication body wants to secure their data while communicating over the Internet. The internet has various benefits but the main demerit is the privacy and security and the transmission of data over insecure network or channel may happen. Various techniques used for secure communication in order to address these issues, steganography plays an important role. Steganography is the process of obfuscation that makes something incomprehensible and unclear. Different image steganography research methods are proposed recently but each has their advantages and disadvantages and still have necessity to develop some better image steganography mechanisms to achieve the reliability between the basics criteria of image steganography. Therefore, the proposed work, in this paper, is based on the Least Significant Bit (LSB) substitution method. The LSB substitution method can minimize the error rate in embedding process and can achieve greater reliability in criteria, using novel algorithm based on value difference. In this paper, we proposed a novel technique in steganography within the digital images such is RGB, Gray Scale, Texture, Aerial images to achieve higher security, imperceptibility, capacity, and robustness as compared with existing methods. The experimental outcomes of the suggested approach prove further developed strength and justify the feasibility of our research. Through numerical simulations, we observed that the proposed strategy outperformed the next-best current methodology by 5.561 percent in terms of PSNR Correlation score. Additionally, the proposed approach achieved a 6.43 percent better score in PSNR with a variable measure of code inserted in similar images with distinct dimensions. Furthermore, encrypting the same amount of information in images of varying sizes resulted in approximately 6.77 percent improvements. Embedding different sizes of a particular secret message in a different image (such as Gray, Texture, Aerial and RGB images) came out with about 5.466 percent of better score.

Inverted LSB image steganography using adaptive pattern to improve imperceptibility

Various image steganography methods have been developed to improve the stego image quality, i.e. imperceptibility, capacity, and security. This research proposes an adaptive method that can select the most optimal pattern to minimize the error ratio due to message embedding. This adaptive pattern can optimize the performance of the inverted LSB substitution method, based on the two-bit + least-significant-bit (LSB) pattern in the container image. Before embedding, the message and container image bits are tested and the error ratio is calculated using the inverted LSB substitution method for various possible patterns. The pattern that has the least error rate is selected to embed the message. The use of this adaptive pattern in inverted LSB image steganography significantly increases imperceptibility. Based on the test results and by comparing it to previous studies, it is found increased results, the PSNR value ranges from 52.49 to 57.45, and the SSIM ranges from 0.9991 to 0.9999 with 1 BPP capacity.

Robust approach of video steganography using combined keypoints detection algorithm against geometrical and signal processing attacks

To secure the secret communication, a robust video steganography algorithm is proposed. The major objectives of the proposed method (PM) are: (1) perceiving the region of interest (ROI) keypoints’ locations in video frames for concealing the secret data and (2) determining the appropriate amount of data to be embedded into the perceived ROI keypoints’ region. In the PM, keypoints are initially extracted from each video frame using scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) and a speeded-up robust features (SURF) descriptor against a set of predefined geometrical and signal processing attacks. Next, ROI keypoints are generated by comparing the SIFT and SURF keypoint descriptors of the original frame and attacked versions of the frame. Then ROI keypoints are divided into four least significant bit (LSB) groups to determine the embedding capacity of each ROI keypoint. Subsequently, the secret data are encrypted using a symmetric key-based shift cipher to provide an additional security layer for secret communication. Finally, the encrypted secret data have been embedded into the ROI keypoints using the LSB substitution method based on the four LSB groups’ values. The PM is tested on 22 standard benchmark videos. The efficiency of the PM is evaluated in terms of the perceptual invisibility, robustness, and concealing capacity. From experimental results, it is observed that the PM outperforms contemporary methods by attaining significant outcomes.

Image steganography based on LSB substitution and encryption method: adaptive LSB+3

The goals of image steganography are to simultaneously reach maximum embedding capacity, enhanced embedding efficiency, better image quality, and more security. We present a two-step data hiding method that improves image quality, capacity, and embedding efficiency, and also provides stego security. In the first step of the proposed method, the hidden data are encrypted with the key words and shifting method to provide security. In the second stage, we propose adaptive least-significant-bit (LSB)+3 type I and adaptive LSB+3 type II methods to hide encrypted data in the cover image. The image quality of the stego image obtained from the proposed adaptive LSB+3 method is better than the traditional three-bit LSB methods. When maximum data are embedded in the cover image, a peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) greater than 41 dB is reached. Experimental studies show that adaptive LSB+3 type I and adaptive LSB+3 type II methods are higher PSNR values (3.48% and 5.73%) than the standard three-bit LSB substitution methods.

Adaptive LSB quantum watermarking method using tri-way pixel value differencing

As an important way to protect copyright by embedding watermark in digital images, quantum watermarking catches more and more attentions. In this study, a novel quantum watermarking method on the basis of tri-way pixel value differencing and modified least significant bit (LSB) substitution is proposed. A quantum cover image using the novel-enhanced quantum image representation is partitioned into non-overlapping 2 × 2 blocks with four pixels firstly. To classify the block as a smooth area or an edge area, the tri-way pixel value differences are calculated and compared with a predefined threshold. The quantum watermark image, which is expanded and scrambled, is then embedded into a quantum cover image by the k-bit LSB substitution method, where k is decided by the level of each block. The embedded quantum watermark can be extracted from the quantum stego-image without the assistance of original quantum cover image. Theoretical analysis and simulation-based experiments demonstrate both the feasibility and capabilities of the proposed quantum watermarking method, which has good visual quality, better robustness, and higher security.

Image steganography for authenticity of visual contents in social networks

Social networks are major sources of image sharing and secret messaging among the people. To date, such networks are not strictly bounded by copyright laws due to which image sharing, secret messaging, and its authentication is vulnerable to many risks. In addition to this, maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of secret messages is an open challenge of today's communication systems. Steganography is one of the solutions to tackle these problems. This paper proposes a secure crystographic framework for authenticity of visual contents using image steganography, utilizing color model transformation, three-level encryption algorithm (TLEA), and Morton scanning (MS)-directed least significant bit (LSB) substitution. The method uses I-plane of the input image in HSI for secret data embedding using MS-directed LSB substitution method. Furthermore, the secret data is encrypted using TLEA prior to embedding, adding an additional level of security for secure authentication. The qualitative and quantitative results verify the better performance of the proposed scheme and provide one of the best mechanisms for authenticity of visual contents in social networks.

Information Hiding in Digital Images using Modified LSB Substitution with Multi-Pixel Differencing and HL Code

A novel Steganographic method based on four-pixel differencing and modified least significant bit (LSB) substitution is used to increase the embedding capacity and to maintain the visual quality of the cover image. The average difference value of a four-pixel block is exploited to classify the block as a smooth area or an edge area. The average difference value is partitioned into two different levels, low level and high level. Secret data is hidden in each pixel by the k-bit LSB substitution method, where k is decided by the level of the average difference value. In order to predict the order of the block, HL code based steganography is proposed. This will help to achieve high embedding capacity and minimize the distortion between cover and stego image. The proposed system is evaluated in terms of the Standard subjective measures like Mean Square Error, Peak Signal to Noise Ratio, Embedding Capacity and Elapsed Time.

Image Steganography via Fully Exploiting Modification Direction

Embedding bits by replacing pixel’s least-significant bit (LSB) is a simple but great idea. Nevertheless, this method is not safe enough. Afterwards, a series of effective and safe algorithms which are based on LSB substitution method were proposed such as EMD (exploiting modification direction) and EMD-2. EMD, modifying at most one of n

Constructing HVS-Based Optimal Substitution Matrix Using Enhanced Differential Evolution

Least significant bit (LSB) substitution is a method of information hiding. The secret message is embedded into the last <svg style="vertical-align:-0.1638pt;width:8.6750002px;" id="M1" height="12.4375" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 8.6750002 12.4375" width="8.6750002" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <g transform="matrix(.017,-0,0,-.017,.062,12.162)"><path id="x1D458" d="M480 416q0 -21 -18 -41q-9 -11 -17 -7q-20 9 -42 9q-62 0 -140 -78q23 -69 88 -192q17 -31 27 -42t20 -11q16 0 62 46l17 -20q-64 -92 -119 -92q-35 0 -70 66q-41 73 -84 187q-36 -30 -62 -61q-27 -115 -35 -172q-41 -8 -78 -20l-6 6l140 612q7 28 0.5 34t-37.5 7l-34 1&#xA;l5 26q38 4 74 13.5t57 17t25 7.5q12 0 4 -32l-104 -443h2q35 38 97 93q39 35 65.5 56t62 41.5t58.5 20.5q19 0 30.5 -10t11.5 -22z" /></g> </svg> bits of a cover-image in order to evade the notice of hackers. The security and stego-image quality are two main limitations of the LSB substitution method. Therefore, some researchers have proposed an LSB substitution matrix to address these two issues. Finding the optimal LSB substitution matrix can be conceptualized as a problem of combinatorial optimization. In this paper, we adopt a different heuristic method based on other researchers&#x2019; method, called enhanced differential evolution (EDE), to construct an optimal LSB substitution matrix. Differing from other researchers, we adopt an HVS-based measurement as a fitness function and embed the secret by modifying the pixel to a closest value rather than simply substituting the LSBs. Our scheme extracts the secret by modular operations as simple LSB substitution does. The experimental results show that the proposed embedding algorithm indeed improves imperceptibility of stego-images substantially.

A steganographic method for digital images with four-pixel differencing and modified LSB substitution

To improve the embedding capacity and provide an imperceptible visual quality, a novel steganographic method based on four-pixel differencing and modified least significant bit (LSB) substitution is presented. The average difference value of a four-pixel block is exploited to classify the block as a smooth area or an edge area. Secret data are hidden into each pixel by the k-bit modified LSB substitution method, where k is decided by the level which the average difference value falls into. Readjustment will be executed to guarantee the same level that the average difference value belongs to before and after embedding, and to minimize the perceptual distortion. By proving that the readjusting procedure works, a theoretical proof is given to justify our method succeeded in embedding and extracting. Our experimental results have shown that the proposed method not only has an acceptable image quality but also provides a large embedding capacity.

Adaptive Data Hiding in Edge Areas of Images With Spatial LSB Domain Systems

This paper proposes a new adaptive least-significant- bit (LSB) steganographic method using pixel-value differencing (PVD) that provides a larger embedding capacity and imperceptible stegoimages. The method exploits the difference value of two consecutive pixels to estimate how many secret bits will be embedded into the two pixels. Pixels located in the edge areas are embedded by a k-bit LSB substitution method with a larger value of k than that of the pixels located in smooth areas. The range of difference values is adaptively divided into lower level, middle level, and higher level. For any pair of consecutive pixels, both pixels are embedded by the k-bit LSB substitution method. However, the value k is adaptive and is decided by the level which the difference value belongs to. In order to remain at the same level where the difference value of two consecutive pixels belongs, before and after embedding, a delicate readjusting phase is used. When compared to the past study of Wu et al.'s PVD and LSB replacement method, our experimental results show that our proposed approach provides both larger embedding capacity and higher image quality.