LSB array based image steganography technique by exploring the four least significant bits

Abstract

In this paper a new LSB (least significant bit) array based image steganographic technique using encryption by RSA algorithm is proposed. In the image each pixel is 8 bits. The four arrays, namely the LSB, LSB1, LSB2 and LSB3 are formulated separately by collecting the bits from the 8 th (LSB), 7 th, 6 th and 5 th bit locations of the pixels respectively. The cipher text is divided into four blocks. The first block is mapped and slided over the LSB array and embedded at maximum matching portion of LSB array. Similarly the second, third and fourth blocks are embedded at maximum matching portion of LSB1, LSB2 and LSB3 arrays respectively. Where the blocks are embedded, the start indices are captured and embedded at a separate place in the image. The retrieving process at the receiver is the reverse of the sender. The performance of this technique is compared with other techniques. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.