Optimizing Data Security with Hybrid Scheme Based on LSB and DWT

Abstract

One of the most popular techniques in image steganography is the Least Significant Bit (LSB) operation, which involves inserting secret data into the cover image's pixels' least significant bit. However, the amount of secret data that can be concealed in the cover image depends on the number of bits used for embedding. In this paper, a novel hybrid steganographic system based on Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and Least Significant Bit (LSB) for image steganography is proposed. The proposed scheme aims to optimize data security by utilizing LSB and DWT techniques to embed secret data into an image robustly and efficiently. The present paper focuses on evaluating the algorithm performance by comparing the encrypted image quality using metrics such as PSNR, RMSE, and SSIM. The experimental results showed that the suggested method outperforms the existing LSB-based in terms of security performance. These results indicated that the proposed method consistently outperforms the conventional LSB-based method across all bit depths tested, with an overall improvement of 14.12% in PSNR, 41.87% in RMSE, and 4.02% in SSIM over the traditional LSB. The proposed method enhanced the PSNR values, reduced the RMSE values, and increased the SSIM values for all bit depths tested, indicating higher image fidelity, less distortion, and better preservation of structural similarity of the original image.