A Steganography Algorithm for Hiding Secret Message inside Image using Random Key

Abstract

Steganography" is a Greek origin word which means "hiding writing". The steganography word is classified into two parts: Steganos means "secret or covered"(where you want to hide the secret messages) and graphic means "writing"(Text). This paper introduces a new approach for least significant Bit (LSB) based on image steganography that enhances the existing LSB substitution techniques to improve the security of hidden information. This paper presents an algorithm to hide the secret data inside images using an efficient steganography technique. We use 8-bit random key for encrypting our secret message and also the same key will be used for choosing the pixel in cover image where we will hide our encrypted data. First we are applying XOR operation between our secret text message and 8-bit random key for encrypting our plain secret message. Now this encrypted message will be hide in cover image. We are hiding our secret encrypted message in the LSB of selected pixel. 8-bit random key and 2 nd LSB of each pixel choosing the pixel where we have to store our encrypted message by applying some operation. This method also hiding large number of character of secret message into cover image as compare to other existing techniques and also much secure.