An Approach on Image Steganography Based on the Least Significant Bit Algorithm

Abstract

Steganography is the practice of communication by covering information within other information mediums. The goal of steganography is to hide information in such a way that it remains hidden so that it looks normal from a commoner's perspective. It has been prevalent since ancient times, with the first use dating back to 440 BC in Greece. The etymology of steganography is a combination of the Greek words: steganos, “covered,” and graphia, “writing.” The modern usage of steganography, termed digital steganography, hides information in files stored on a computer. A standard steganography algorithm has three essential components: carrier, message, and key. Carrier is the file that carries the message and an optional key to add a layer of authentication. Researchers have implemented steganography utilizing different carriers, for example, image, audio, and text. The carrier may or may not have any relation with the confidential information. Image steganography is a type of steganography that deals with hiding a message in an image file. The image, as a result, ends up with noise.