An Improved Image Steganography Method for Secure and High-Capacity Data Transmission Using Adaptive LSB Embedding

Fthi M Albkosh; Mohamed M  Elsharif

doi:10.59743/jau.v10i2.2182

Authors

Fthi M Albkosh Departmen of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Alasmarya Islamic University, Zliten, Libya Author
Mohamed M Elsharif Departmen of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Alasmarya Islamic University, Zliten, Libya Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59743/jau.v10i2.2182

Keywords:

Adaptive LSB Embedding, Image Steganography, Spatial Domain Steganography, Data Hiding, LSB, Image Quality Measurements

Abstract

Communicating digital information electronically is mostly insecure due to a variety of attacks. Among the used techniques to enhance data security is Least Significant Bit (LSB) steganography. However, a key limitation of traditional LSB methods lies in their restricted embedding capacity, which can compromise overall security and effectiveness. This paper presents an improved image steganography approach based on adaptive embedding within the LSBs of cover images. Unlike conventional methods that use fixed embedding values, the proposed technique dynamically adjusts embedding values according to the local characteristics of the image. Specifically, regions with high complexity can tolerate more embedded data without noticeable distortion, while smoother regions are assigned lower embedding levels. The proposed method is evaluated using RGB images from the Mendeley benchmark dataset, with varying sizes of embedded text files. Experimental results confirm that the proposed adaptive strategy optimizes embedding performance, achieving a superior balance between payload capacity, imperceptibility, and security.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Z. Wang and X. Zhang, "Secure cover selection for steganography," IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 57857-57867, 2019.

M. A. Hameed, M. Hassaballah, S. Aly, and A. I. Awad, "An adaptive image steganography method based on histogram of oriented gradient and PVD-LSB techniques," IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 185189-185204, 2019.

Z. Qu, Z. Cheng, and X. Wang, "Matrix coding-based quantum image steganography algorithm," IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 35684-35698, 2019.

K. Joshi, S. Gill, and R. Yadav, "A new method of image steganography using 7th bit of a pixel as indicator by introducing the successive temporary pixel in the gray scale image," Journal of Computer Networks and Communications, vol. 2018, 2018.

X. Qin, B. Li, S. Tan, and J. Zeng, "A novel steganography for spatial color images based on pixel vector cost," IEEE Access, vol. 7, pp. 8834-8846, 2019.

O. H. Alhabeeb, F. Fauzi, and R. Sulaiman, "A review of modern DNA-based steganography approaches," International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, vol. 12, 2021.

M. A. Majeed, R. Sulaiman, Z. Shukur, and M. K. Hasan, "A review on text steganography techniques," Mathematics, vol. 9, p. 2829, 2021.

M. A. Majeed and R. Sulaiman, "AN IMPROVED LSB IMAGE STEGANOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE USING BIT-INVERSE IN 24 BIT COLOUR IMAGE," Journal of Theoretical & Applied Information Technology, vol. 80, 2015.

A. H. Ali, L. E. George, A. Zaidan, and M. R. Mokhtar, "High capacity, transparent and secure audio steganography model based on fractal coding and chaotic map in temporal domain," Multimedia Tools and Applications, vol. 77, pp. 31487-31516, 2018.

S. Kamil, M. Ayob, S. N. H. S. Abdullah, and Z. Ahmad, "Lightweight and optimized multi-layer data hiding using video steganography paper," International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, vol. 9, pp. 256-262, 2018.

M. Parul and H. Rohil, "Optimized image steganography using discrete wavelet transform (DWT)," International Journal of Recent Development in Engineering and Technology, vol. 2, pp. 75-81, 2014.

I. J. Kadhim, P. Premaratne, P. J. Vial, and B. Halloran, "Comprehensive survey of image steganography: Techniques, Evaluations, and trends in future research," Neurocomputing, vol. 335, pp. 299-326, 2019.

J. Fridrich and M. Long, "Steganalysis of LSB encoding in color images," in 2000 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo. ICME2000. Proceedings. Latest Advances in the Fast Changing World of Multimedia (Cat. No. 00TH8532), 2000, pp. 1279-1282.

S. Sajasi and A.-M. E. Moghadam, "An adaptive image steganographic scheme based on noise visibility function and an optimal chaotic based encryption method," Applied Soft Computing, vol. 30, pp. 375-389, 2015.

H. K. Tayyeh and A. S. A. Al-Jumaili, "A combination of least significant bit and deflate compression for image steganography," International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering, vol. 12, pp. 358-364, 2022.

S. Ghoul, R. Sulaiman, and Z. Shukur, "A review on security techniques in image steganography," International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, vol. 14, 2023.

F. M. A. Albkosh, A. S. Mohamed, A. A. Albakoush, and A. A. Albkush, "An Enhanced Method to Secure the High Embedding Capacity Steganography Based on LSB Indicator," in 2024 IEEE 4th International Maghreb Meeting of the Conference on Sciences and Techniques of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering (MI-STA), 2024, pp. 494-499.

K. A. Darabkh, A. K. Al-Dhamari, and I. F. Jafar, "A new steganographic algorithm based on multi directional PVD and modified LSB," Information Technology and Control, vol. 46, pp. 16-36, 2017.

N. A. Taha, A. Al Saffar, A. A. Abdullatif, and F. A. Abdullatif, "Image Steganography using dynamic threshold based on discrete cosine transform," in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2021, p. 022087.

P. Palanisamy and M. K. Rajagopal, "A steganography framework for easy secret sharing through images," in 2013 IEEE Second International Conference on Image Information Processing (ICIIP-2013), 2013, pp. 309-312.

M. Liśkiewicz, R. Reischuk, and U. Wölfel, "Security levels in steganography–insecurity does not imply detectability," Theoretical Computer Science, vol. 692, pp. 25-45, 2017.

G. Liu, Y. Dai, Z. Wang, and L. Shiguo, "Adaptive image steganography by reversible data hiding," in International Conference on Intelligent Systems and Knowledge Engineering 2007, 2007, pp. 1136-1142.

S. Gupta, A. Goyal, and B. Bhushan, "Information hiding using least significant bit steganography and cryptography," International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, vol. 4, p. 27, 2012.

A. Arya and S. Soni, "Performance evaluation of secrete image steganography techniques using least significant bit (LSB) method," Int. J. Comput. Sci. Trends Technol, vol. 6, pp. 160-165, 2018.

K. Bailey and K. Curran, "An evaluation of image based steganography methods," Multimedia Tools and Applications, vol. 30, pp. 55-88, 2006.

A. Gutub, M. Ankeer, M. Abu-Ghalioun, A. Shaheen, and A. Alvi, "Pixel indicator high capacity technique for RGB image based Steganography," 2008.

A. Gutub, A. Al-Qahtani, and A. Tabakh, "Triple-A: Secure RGB image steganography based on randomization," in 2009 IEEE/ACS International Conference on Computer Systems and Applications, 2009, pp. 400-403.

A. A.-A. Gutub, "Pixel indicator technique for RGB image steganography," Journal of emerging technologies in web intelligence, vol. 2, pp. 56-64, 2010.

V. M. Viswanatham and J. Manikonda, "A novel technique for embedding data in spatial domain," International Journal on Computer Science and Engineering, IJCSE, vol. 2, 2010.

J. Rayappan, "Pixel indicated triple layer: A way for random image steganography," Research Journal of Information Technology, vol. 5, pp. 87-99, 2013.

V. R. Kukapalli, T. Rao, and S. Reddy, "Image Steganography byEnhanced Pixel Indicator Method Using Most Significant Bit (MSB) Compare," International Journal of puter Trends and Technology (IJCTT)–15, vol. 3, pp. 97-101, 2014.

J. Pandey, K. Joshi, M. Jangra, and M. Sain, "Pixel indicator steganography technique with enhanced capacity for RGB images," in 2019 International Conference on Intelligent Computing and Control Systems (ICCS), 2019, pp. 738-743.

K. I. M. Abuzanouneh and M. Hadwan, "Multi-stage protection using pixel selection technique for enhancing steganography," International Journal of Communication Networks and Information Security, vol. 13, pp. 55-61, 2021.

T.-C. Lu, C.-Y. Tseng, and J.-H. Wu, "Dual imaging-based reversible hiding technique using LSB matching," Signal Processing, vol. 108, pp. 77-89, 2015.

W. Luo, F. Huang, and J. Huang, "Edge adaptive image steganography based on LSB matching revisited," IEEE Transactions on information forensics and security, vol. 5, pp. 201-214, 2010.

O. Zanganeh and S. Ibrahim, "Image steganography based on adaptive optimal embedding," in 5th International Conference on Computer Sciences and Convergence Information Technology, 2010, pp. 600-605.

P. Deshmukh and T. Pattewar, "A novel approach for edge adaptive steganography on LSB insertion technique," in International Conference on Information Communication and Embedded Systems (ICICES2014), 2014, pp. 1-5.

M. Abdel Hameed, S. Aly, and M. Hassaballah, "An efficient data hiding method based on adaptive directional pixel value differencing (ADPVD)," Multimedia Tools and Applications, vol. 77, pp. 14705-14723, 2018.

I. Cox, M. Miller, J. Bloom, J. Fridrich, and T. Kalker, Digital watermarking and steganography: Morgan kaufmann, 2007.

O. Khalind and B. Y. Y. Aziz, "LSB steganography with improved embedding efficiency and undetectability," Computer Science & Information Technology, vol. 5, pp. 89-105, 2015.

R. Poornima and R. Iswarya, "An overview of digital image steganography," International Journal of Computer Science & Engineering Survey (IJCSES), vol. 4, pp. 23-31, 2013.

M. Al-Jarrah, "Rgb-bmp steganalysis dataset," Mendeley Data, vol. 1, 2018.

D. Das, A. Durafe, and V. Patidar, "An efficient lightweight LSB steganography with deep learning steganalysis," in Computational Intelligence in Image and Video Processing, ed: Chapman and Hall/CRC, 2023, pp. 131-154.

H. A. Shabat, K. R. Raheem, and W. M. R. Shakir, "Blind Steganalysis Method Using Image Spectral Density and Differential Histogram Correlative Power Spectral Density," Journal of Image and Graphics, vol. 12, pp. 10-15, 2024.

M. M. Hashim, M. S. M. Rahim, F. A. Johi, M. S. Taha, and H. S. Hamad, "Performance evaluation measurement of image steganography techniques with analysis of LSB based on variation image formats," International Journal of Engineering & Technology, vol. 7, pp. 3505-3514, 2018.

A. Pradhan, A. K. Sahu, G. Swain, and K. R. Sekhar, "Performance evaluation parameters of image steganography techniques," in 20F16 International conference on research advances in integrated navigation systems (RAINS), 2016, pp. 1-8.

Z. Wang and A. C. Bovik, "A universal image quality index," IEEE signal processing letters, vol. 9, pp. 81-84, 2002.

Z. Wang, A. C. Bovik, H. R. Sheikh, and E. P. Simoncelli, "Image quality assessment: from error visibility to structural similarity," IEEE transactions on image processing, vol. 13, pp. 600-612, 2004.