A Novel Image Steganography Model Using LSB with Extended ASCII Codes

Abstract

Steganography is a method for invisible communication while concealing the actual data to be transmitted within non-secret data or text. It is the process of hiding the secret information within another form of data like text, image, audio, or video. Image steganography intends to embed a secret message into another image, called as a cover image through an encrypting algorithm, and the secret data can be retrieved by using a decrypting algorithm. The two major techniques used in image steganography process are spatial domain and transform domain. LSB is a commonly used technique as the payload capacity is higher compared to transform domain techniques, whereas the robustness is lower. There are various other models where the disadvantages of each type are being reduced. But the proposed model is a hybrid model which would increase payload capacity as well as robustness with a strong security. This helps to combine the advantages of each type of image steganography. We can do so by replacing the common words by using special symbols with extended ASCII values.