Least Significant Bit Technique Research Articles

Improved LSB Based Image Steganography Using Linked Pixel Technique: A Linked-List Inspired Approach

Image steganography is the art of hiding data into images. Secret data such as messages, audio, images can be hidden inside the cover image. This is mainly achieved by hiding the data into the LSB (Least Significant Bit) of the image pixels. To improve the security of steganography, this paper introduces LPS (Least Significant Bit Plane Steganography), a novel approach inspired by linked lists, which diverges from traditional LSB techniques. LPS utilizes the LSB of each channel to encode both data and pointers to subsequent pixels, creating a linked-list-like structure within the image. Keywords: Steganography, LSB, Information hiding, Linked Pixel Steganography

An Adaptive Steganography Insertion Technique Based on Cosine Transform

In the last couple decades, several successful steganography approaches have been proposed. Least Significant Bit (LSB) Insertion technique has been deployed due to its simplicity in implementation and reasonable payload capacity. The most important design parameter in LSB techniques is the embedding location selection criterion. In this work, LSB insertion technique is proposed which is based on selecting the embedding locations depending on the weights of coefficients in Cosine domain (2D DCT). The cover image is transformed to the Cosine domain (by 2D DCT) and predefined number of coefficients are selected to embed the secret message (which is in the binary form). Those weights are the outputs of an adaptive algorithm that analyses the cover image in two domains (Haar and Cosine). Coefficients, in the Cosine transform domain, with small weights are selected. The proposed approach is tested with samples from the BOSSbase, and a custom-built databases. Two metrics are utilized to show the effectiveness of the technique, namely, Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR). In addition, human visual inspection of the result image is also considered. As shown in the results, the proposed approach performs better, in terms of (RMSE, and PSNR) than commonly employed truncation and energy based methods.

Concealment of Secret Information in Digital LSB Steganography in Colour and Grey Scale Images

Modern communication system needs an exceptional way of security, especially on computer networks. The network security is becoming more paramount as the number of data being exchanged on the internet increases. Steganography is the art of hiding information in a cover image without causing statistically significant variations to the cover image. Different types of carrier file formats can be used, but digital images are the most popular ones because of their frequency on the internet. This research work gives an overview of image steganography, it’s uses and techniques, basically, to store confidential information within images such as details of working strategy, secret missions, criminal and confidential information in various organizations that work for national security such as military, FBI, DSS, Nigerian police etc. The desktop application has been developed that incorporates Advanced Encryption Standard for encryption of the original message, and Spatially Desynchronized Steganography Algorithm for hiding the text file inside the image. Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique was used in hiding messages in an image. The system enhanced the LSB technique by randomly dispersing the bits of the message in the image and thus making it harder for steganalyst to extract the original message. Keywords:. LSB, Cryptography, Encryption, Image Processing, Security

A Novel LSB Steganography Technique Using Image Segmentation

Steganography is a process to hide data inside a cover file mostly used in media files like image, video, and audio files. Least significant bit (LSB) steganography is a technique where the least significant bits of pixels are used for information hiding. The purpose of using only those bits is to minimize the visual impact of the hidden data on the image file. LSB technique of steganography is one of the most popular forms of steganography available today. As a result, various steganalysis techniques are developed for this steganography technique. One of them is the visual analysis of pixels through pixel modifications to expose hidden data in a visual manner. The proposed method achieves resistance to this attack using an image segmentation model and extracting the most texture-complex areas of an image and hiding information in these specific areas as pseudo-randomized least significant bit replacements. As the outcome of the study, an alternative approach to LSB steganography that results competitively with existing methods is provided. 

Design of an Efficient & Secure Steganographic Model using Modified LSB & Encryption Process

This paper introduces a novel steganographic model for robust multimodal data security, seamlessly integrating a modified Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique with encryption, making it applicable to diverse data types such as images, audio, video, and text. Overcoming challenges posed by existing complex models and communication delays, our approach employs a modified LSB technique to encode similar sized data samples, followed by dynamic bioinspired elliptic curve cryptography (BECC) utilizing a Mayfly Optimization (MO) Model. This adaptive strategy optimizes curve types and prime key sets, significantly enhancing data security while minimizing delays and complexities across diverse data sizes. The proposed model achieves an 8.3% reduction in encryption and steganographic process delays, while simultaneously maintaining superior Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and lower Mean Squared Error (MSE) levels compared to existing methods when applied to the same data samples. This highlights its effectiveness in securing dynamic datasets without compromising efficiency.

Design of an Efficient & Secure Steganographic Model using Modified LSB & Encryption Process

This paper introduces a novel steganographic model for robust multimodal data security, seamlessly integrating a modified Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique with encryption, making it applicable to diverse data types such as images, audio, video, and text. Overcoming challenges posed by existing complex models and communication delays, our approach employs a modified LSB technique to encode similar sized data samples, followed by dynamic bioinspired elliptic curve cryptography (BECC) utilizing a Mayfly Optimization (MO) Model. This adaptive strategy optimizes curve types and prime key sets, significantly enhancing data security while minimizing delays and complexities across diverse data sizes. The proposed model achieves an 8.3% reduction in encryption and steganographic process delays, while simultaneously maintaining superior Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) and lower Mean Squared Error (MSE) levels compared to existing methods when applied to the same data samples. This highlights its effectiveness in securing dynamic datasets without compromising efficiency.

DEVELOPMENT OF NOVEL COMPARISON BASED STEGANOGRAPHY ALGORITHMS ON MULTIMEDIA TO HIDE PRIVATE DATA

Throughout history, humanity has had secrets to safeguard, information that needed to be conveyed to allies in a way that enemies couldn't decipher. To achieve this goal of safeguarding important and valuable information, cryptography and steganography have been frequently used methods both in the past and in today's world. This article introduces a steganographic algorithm designed for hiding data in the color images, along with two different algorithm designs derived from this method. The bits of the hidden message are embedded sequentially into each pixel using the bit comparison. The comparison method works by matching the bits of the image and the message. The least significant bits (LSB) of the carrier (cover) image bytes change depending on the number of matching bits between the carrier image and the hidden message. The proposed method has the potential to hide 1 byte of data within 5 bytes under optimal conditions. The designed algorithms have been tested on a series of color images, and satisfactory results have been achieved in terms of embedding a sufficient amount of data into the images without compromising image quality. The results have been compared with the results of the LSB technique and similar methods based on various performance criteria.

Optimizing Data Security with Hybrid Scheme Based on LSB and DWT

One of the most popular techniques in image steganography is the Least Significant Bit (LSB) operation, which involves inserting secret data into the cover image's pixels' least significant bit. However, the amount of secret data that can be concealed in the cover image depends on the number of bits used for embedding. In this paper, a novel hybrid steganographic system based on Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Least Significant Bit (LSB) for image steganography is proposed. The proposed scheme aims to optimize data security by utilizing LSB and DWT techniques to embed secret data into an image robustly and efficiently. The present paper focuses on evaluating the algorithm performance by comparing the encrypted image quality using metrics such as PSNR, RMSE, and SSIM. The experimental results showed that the suggested method outperforms the existing LSB-based in terms of security performance. These results indicated that the proposed method consistently outperforms the conventional LSB-based method across all bit depths tested, with an overall improvement of 14.12% in PSNR, 41.87% in RMSE, and 4.02% in SSIM over the traditional LSB. The proposed method enhanced the PSNR values, reduced the RMSE values, and increased the SSIM values for all bit depths tested, indicating higher image fidelity, less distortion, and better preservation of structural similarity of the original image.

Hiding Information in Digital Images Using LSB Steganography Technique

The highest way to protect data from intruder and unauthorized persons has become a major issue. This matter led to the development of many techniques for data security, such as Steganography, Cryptography, and Watermarking to disguise data. This paper proposes an image steganography method using the Least Significant Bits (LSB) technique and XOR operator and a secret key, through which the secret key is transformed into a one-dimensional bit stream array, then these bits are XORed with the bits of the secret image. Multiple experiments have been performed to embed color and grayscale images inside cover media. In this work, the LSB technique is ideal in two ways: firstly, only the least significant one-bit (1bit) of each byte will store the embedded data, this method is named (1-LSB). Secondly, the four least significant bits of the right half-byte (4 bits) of each byte will store the embedded data, this method is named (4-LSB). Subjective and objective analyzes were performed for each LSB process. The subjective analysis is responsible for both HVS and histogram, whereas the objective analysis involved both PSNR and MSE metrics.

Developing Algorithms for Image Steganography and Increasing the Capacity Depending on Choosing the Best Pixels

Steganography is a vital technique for transferring confidential information via an insecure network. In addition, digital images are used as a cover to communicate sensitive information. The Least Significant Bit (LSB) method is one of the simplest ways to insert secret data into a cover image. In this paper, the secret text is compressed twice by an Arithmetic coding algorithm, and the resulting secret bits are hidden in the cover pixels of the image corresponding to the pixels of each of the following three methods, one of three methods is used in each experiment: The first method, the edges of the image are modified to increase the number of edges, in the second method the lighter-colored regions are selected, and in the third method, the two methods are combined together to increase security and keep the secret message unrecognized. Hiding in each of the previous methods is done by using the LSB technique in the last 2-bit. The correction approach is used to increase the stego image's imperceptibility. The experimental results show that with an average message size of 29.8 kb, the average Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) for the second proposed (Light regions) method equals 62.76 dB and for the third proposed (Edge and region) method equals 62.72 dB, which is a reasonable result when compared to other steganographic techniques.

User data privacy in multimedia domain using 3–3 LSB-based color image steganography with RC4 and Bernoulli map protection

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc. have become commonplace in everyday life. With the emergence of the internet, the amount of data being created and communicated within social networks has increased exponentially. As much as we enjoy the exchange of information that occurs on social media, protecting and maintaining privacy demands a lot of effort. Users’ data that are to be kept private should be treated as confidential information. As a result, securing data exchange on the internet has become a critical and urgent issue. We have suggested a method for protecting user data which is encrypted by using the Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) algorithm in multimedia images with the help of 3–3 least significant bits (LSB) techniques, with the added safety of Bernoulli map. We call this technique the “user data protection scheme.” 3–3 LSB is a message hiding process in which the first three stand for three LSB and the next three stand for all three channels (R, G, and B). In this method, we are using the Rivest Cipher 4 (RC4) encryption algorithm to encrypt the user’s data, which will then be embedded into the multimedia image in the next step. With the help of the Bernoulli map, we generate a random sequence of length similar to the size of the image. For every random number generated by the Bernoulli map, we determine the location in the plane and place three bits of secret message into the cover image using the LSB technique. Since we have used two different encryption techniques, i.e., RC4 for encryption of user data and Bernoulli map for embedding encrypted data at random locations over the cover image, our method is more secure than others. We performed this analysis to equate peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean square error. Our experimental result shows that 9 bpp can be embedded in color images with a PSNR higher than 42 dB, and for the gray scale image embedding capacity is 3 bpp with a PSNR higher than 42 dB, which provides better results. Apart from this, it produces less distorted stego-images than currently used methods (an average of 1.68 bpp).

Hide text in an image using Blowfish algorithm and development of least significant bit technique

Recently, there is increasing interest in data transfer between many different devices. Data must be encrypted before being sent so that the intended receiver can only read it to prevent unauthorized access and processing of a secret message. This paper suggests two levels of security to secure import messages that are sent via the internet. A secret text is encrypted by a Blowfish algorithm, then the secret text is hidden in an image by the least significant bit (LSB) technique. The LSB method of concealing important information was developed to conceal at least the first of at least two bits, depending on the cover data. The resolution of an image is raised in our work where the sender selects a stego image with a high peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR). The receiver knows all the necessary information for decoding by the first nine pixels. The PSNR is used for evaluating the resolution of the image to check robustness at sending. The number of PSNR illustrates in our proposal that the resolution of the image is near the original LSB technique, but the embedding is more randomly robust in steganography.

A Comparative Analysis of LSB, MSB and PVD Based Image Steganography

Steganography is the art and science of hiding information by embedding data into cover media. Numerous techniques are designed to provide the security for the communication of data over the Internet. A good steganographic algorithm is recognized by the performance of the techniques measured with the support of the performance metrics among which are PSNR, MSE, SSIM, robustness and capacity to hide the information in the cover image. In this paper a comparative analysis of Least Significant Bit (LSB), Most Significant Bit (MSB) and Pixel Value Differencing (PVD) image steganography in grayscale and colored images was performed. Three different cover images was used to hide secret message. A comparative performance analysis of LSB, MSB and PVD methods used in image steganography was performed using peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), Mean square error (MSE) and Structural Similarity index (SSIM) as performance metrics. LSB technique gives higher PSNR and SSIM values than MSB and PVD method with lower MSE than the other two techniques. Future research can be geared towards investigating the embedding capacity, security, and computational complexity of each technique. Keywords: Least Significant Bit (LSB), Most Significant Bit (MSB), Pixel value differencing (PVD), PSNR, SSIM and MSE,

Component analysis of matrix pattern on RGB images for image stegano-key in MATLAB

Steganography is quite possibly the best procedures to shroud the presence of concealed data inside a cowl thing. Pictures are the notable cowl things for Steganography and in this work, picture Steganography is embraced. Implanting secret information based interior pictures calls for concentrated calculation, and thus equipment based Steganography usage increases fundamental interest of Steganography based calculation. There are a few techniques to shroud inside recorded cover-photographs. The spatial area strategies control the duvet-photograph pixel-bit esteems to insert the mystery data. The mystery pieces are composed quickly to the duvet picture pixel bytes. Thusly, the spatial territory procedures are basic and simple to execute. The Least Significant Bit (LSB) based picture steganography is one of the significant systems in spatial area photograph Steganography. In this work, a shiny new strategy for LSB Steganography has been suggested that is an extemporized model of 1 bit LSB technique.

A Safe and Secured Medical Textual Information Using an Improved LSB Image Steganography

Safe conveyance of medical data across unsecured networks nowadays is an essential issue in telemedicine. With the exponential growth of multimedia technologies and connected networks, modern healthcare is a huge step ahead. Authentication of a diagnostic image obtained from a specialist at a remote location which is from the sender is one of the most challenging tasks in an automated healthcare setup. Intruders were found to be able to efficiently exploit securely transmitted messages from previous literature since the algorithms were not efficient enough leading to distortion of information. Therefore, this study proposed a modified least significant bit (LSB) technique capable of protecting and hiding medical data to solve the crucial authentication issue. The application was executed and established by utilizing MATLAB 2018a, and it used a logical bit shift operation for execution. The investigational outcomes established that the proposed technique can entrench medical information without leaving a perceptible falsification in the stego image. The result of this implementation shows that the modified LSB image steganography outperformed the standard LSB technique with a higher PSNR value and lower MSE value when compared with previous research works. The number of shifts was added as a new performance metric for the proposed system. The study concluded that the proposed secured medical information system was evidenced to be proficient in secreting medical information and creating undetectable stego images with slight entrenching falsifications when likened to other prevailing approaches.

New security approach-based Steganography and Cryptography by modified AES algorithm

The transmission of information through any channel of correspondence needs solid encryption procedures with the end goal of information security. The computerized watermarking assumes a significant part in inserting data into an advanced picture signal, for the check and character of its proprietors. In discrete wavelet change, "investigation channel bank" can be utilized for dissecting picture signals by going through. The channel bank comprises high and low pass channels at every deterioration stage. In this paper, a technique to consolidate steganography (Least Significant Method-LSM) and cryptography Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is thought to give a safer method to information transmission through any unstable or public organizations. Prior to inserting the content in the picture, the text is scrambled utilizing AES calculation. Utilizing least significant bit (LSB) strategy, encoded the text installed in low-low (LL) subband wavelet decayed of a picture. Converse wavelet changes applied will lead to the output picture is communicated to the recipient. Presently at the collector's end, the picture changed utilizing wavelet and encoded text will be extricated by utilizing the LSB technique. This paper shows how AES calculation is utilized in the decoding of the outcome.

An Enhanced Method for Information Hiding Using LSB Steganography

This work involves a method to communicate one to one by hiding the information among all the people. Digital photographs are the most suitable components compared to other things available on the internet as transmitter based on their availability. This work basically ciphered message within a photographs. For hiding secret information in images, there exist an outsized sort of steganographic techniques some are more complex than others and every one of them have respective strong and weak points. Different applications may have separate requirements of the cipher technique used. for instance, some applications may require absolute invisibility of the key information, while others require a bigger secret message to be hidden. This work intends to offer an summary of image steganography, its uses and techniques. LSB (Least Significant Bit) technique is used for this work. Here bits of the text are replaced by the LSBs of the pixel values of the image. because the LSBs are alone changed, normal human eyes cannot predict the difference between the first image and therefore the resulting image.In this work, the pixel indicator technique has been used to hide information in RGB Images. Least two significant bits are used for this proposed methodology as of one for the channels of Red, Green or Blue as an indicator of data existence in the other two channels. Based on the image nature indicator bits will be generated randomly in the channel.

Pixel Based Steganography for Secure Information Hiding

The term “steganography” is derived from the Greek words steganos, which means “verified, concealed, or guaranteed”, and graphein, which means “writing”. The primary motivation for considering steganography is to prevent unapproved individuals from obtaining disguised data. With the ultimate goal of comprehending the fundamental inspiration driving the steganography procedures, there should be no significant change in the example report. The Least Significant Bit (LSB) system, which is one of the methodologies for concealing propelled picture data, is examined in this assessment. In this evaluation, another procedure for data stowing indefinitely is proposed with the ultimate goal of limiting the progressions occurring in the spread record while hiding the data with the LSB technique and making the best cover to make it difficult to get concealed data. The RGB(Red, Green, and Blue) pixel esteem based stegnography technique is proposed in this proposition. The claim to fame of this calculation is that, unlike other stegnography calculations, we do not change the pixels unless absolutely necessary.

An Approach to Hide an Audio File in Image Using LSB Technique

Recently, the world is interested in moving data between various devices. When The data transfer over the internet, maybe it attacks and reads or modifies on containing it. So, Data transmission must be encrypted before sending it to read and interpret by the intended receiver. Thus, information security is more critical than it used to be. This paper reflects the implementation of the two Least Significant Bit (LSB) techniques is named sequential LSB and sorted LSB. It is done by embedding a secret audio file into a cover file of the image using the LSB techniques with an approach to choose the hiding index. The work proposed uses the conventional approach to the LBS techniques under the name sequential LSB as the basic steganography model to compare my algorithm which called sorted LSB. Based on results, the sorted LSB produces is the same sequential LSB in which the stego image is not recognized by human eyes, but the security more complex than the LSB sequential.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: A stable image steganography: a novel approach based on modified RSA algorithm and 2–4 least significant bit (LSB) technique

Nowadays, due to the rapid technological growth of information technology billions of data transferred through the network around the world in a fraction of seconds. To protect the transferred information from unauthorized access, security mechanism is required. At this point, significant role is performed by a technology called information security. So, to provide security, various techniques have been evolved such as cryptography, steganography and digital watermarking. Cryptography converts the message into scrambled format whereas in steganography the secret message is buried in the digital media. In this paper, both cryptography and steganography is combined to safeguard the information. First, the message is encrypted with the help of revised RSA algorithm to convert the message into secret message. Second, the cover image is segmented into edge and non-edge pixels using Canny edge detection technique and then N1(two) and N2 (four) bits of the secret messages are buried into the edge and non-edge pixel areas using LSB technique. Finally, the essential parameters like N1, N2 and the length values are implanted into the last four pixels of the cover-image to obtain the stego-image. At the recipient side, the hidden data are extracted from the stego-image after extracting N1, N2 and length information. Then, the extracted secret data is decrypted using revised RSA algorithm. Modified RSA algorithm improves the security by using two pairs of keys. At last, the various performance metrics parameters such as entropy, MSE, peak signal to noise ratio and histogram are measured. It is observed that the proposed system attains improved efficiency, security and imperceptibility properties of information hiding from the results.