IMAGE BASED STEGANOGRAPHY USING LSB INSERTION TECHNIQUE

A Project report

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement

For the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY

IN

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

By

K. Sai Pranitha (07FE1A0419)

T. Usha Sri (07FE1A0423)

M. V. R. Amaralingeswara Rao (08FE5A0417)

V. Kanaka Rao (08FE5A0418)

Under the guidance of

Mr. M. Suman
Assistant Professor

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

VIGNAN’S LARA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

VADLAMUDI – 522 213

GUNTUR (Dt.)

(2010-11)
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that this project report entitled
IMAGE BASED STEGANOGRAPHY USING LSB INSERTION TECHNIQUE
is a bonafide record of work done by

K. Sai Pranitha (07FE1A0419)

T. Usha Sri (07FE1A0423)

M. V. R. Amaralingeswara Rao (08FE5A0417)

V. Kanaka Rao (08FE5A0418)

Under my guidance and supervision and submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for
the award of the degree of Bachelor of Technology in Electronics and Communication
Engineering by the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Kakinada.

M. SUMAN
Assistant Professor

M. V. H. BHASKARA MURTHY
Professor and HOD

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

VIGNAN’S LARA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE

VADLAMUDI – 522 213

GUNTUR (Dt.)

(2010-11)
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to take this opportunity to express our profound sense of gratitude to our
guide Mr. M. SUMAN, Assistant Professor, Vignan’s Lara Institute of Technology and Science,
for his constant guidance, supervision, motivation and encouragement all the way during the
project, his annotations and criticisms are the key behind successful completion of this project
work.
We also like to thank our beloved Head of the Department, Electronics and
Communication Engineering, Prof. M. V. H. BHASKARA MURTHY garu, for his cooperation and
encouragement in completing this project by providing us proper lab facilities.

We, the members of the project, express thanks to the people who were directly or
indirectly involved in this project for their overwhelming cooperation. Finally we would like to
extend our heartfelt thanks to our beloved parents whose blessings and encouragement were
always there as a source of strength and inspiration.

Project Associates

K. Sai Pranitha (0FE91A0419)

T. Usha Sri (07FE1A0423)

M.V. R. Amaralingeswara Rao (08FE5A0417)

V. Kanaka Rao (08FE5A0418)

 CONTENTS

Abstract i

List of Figures ii
1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. STEGANOGRAPHY TECHNIQUES 2

2.1 Kerk off Principle 2

3. STEGANOGRAPHY METHODS 3

3.1 Substitution Method 3

3.2 Proposed Method 4

3.3 Visual Perception 4
3.4 Difference Analysis 5
3.5 Distortion Analysis 5

3.6 Depth Vs Distortion Analysis 5

3.7 Steganography in Images 6

4. STEGANOGRAPHY DIAGRAMATIC FLOW 7

4.1 Images 7
4.2 Image Compression 8

5. IMAGE ENCODING TECHNIQUE 9

5.1 Least Significant Bit Insertion 9

5.2 Advantages of LSB 10
5.3 Masking and Filtering 10
5.4 Algorithms and Transformations 11

6. SYSTEM DESIGN 13

7. SECURITY 14

8. FUTURE SCOPE 15

9. CONCLUSION 16

10. REFERENCES 17
 I

ABSTRACT
We propose a new method for strengthening the security of information through a
combination of signal processing, cryptography and steganography. Cryptography provides the
security by concealing the contents and steganography provides security by concealing
existence of information being communicated. Signal processing adds additional security by
compressing and transforming the information. The proposed method, viz. Steganography
Based Information Protection Method (SBIPM), consists of scanning, coding, encryption,
reshaping, cover processing and embedding steps.

We then turn to data-hiding in images. Steganography in images has truly come of age
with the invention of fast, powerful computers. Software is readily available off the Internet for
any user to hide data inside images. These software are designed to fight illegal distribution of
image documents by stamping some recognizable feature into the image. The most popular
technique is Least Significant Bit insertion, which we will look at. Also, we look at more complex
methods such as masking and filtering, and algorithms and transformations, which offer the
most robustness to attack, such as the Patchwork method which exploits the human eye's
weakness to luminance variation.

We will take a brief look at steganalysis, the science of detecting hidden messages and
destroying them. We conclude by finding that steganography offers great potential for securing
of data copyright, and detection of infringers. Soon, through steganography, personal
messages, files, all artistic creations, pictures, and songs can be protected from piracy.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

LIST OF FIGURES
1. Frame work of Steganography Based Information Protection Method 4
2. Scheme of Steganography 5

3. Depth Vs Distortion Analysis 6

4. Steganography Diagrammatic Flow 7

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

1. INTRODUCTION
Now a days, various modes of communication like LAN, WAN and INTERNET are widely
used for communicating information from one place to another around the globe. Such
communication networks are open which any one can access easily. They are regularly
monitored and an intercepted.

Steganography, from the Greek, means covered or secret writing, and is a long-practiced
form of hiding information. Although related to cryptography, they are not the same.
Steganography's intent is to hide the existence of the message, while cryptography scrambles a
message so that it cannot be understood. More precisely,

'The goal of steganography is to hide messages inside other harmless messages in a way
that does not allow any enemy to even detect that there is a second secret message present."

Steganography includes a vast array of techniques for hiding messages in a variety of

media. Among these methods are invisible inks, microdots, digital signatures, covert channels
and spread-spectrum communications. A message is embedded in a cover media in an invisible
manner so that one could not suspect about its existence.

In this paper we present a substitution based information protection method where we

combine cryptographic, steganographic and signal processing concepts together for achieving
security. The method is known as Steganography Based Information Protection method. In this
method we substitute the information bit in randomly selected pixels at random places within
LSB region.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

2. STEGANOGRAPHY TECHNIQUE
Steganography is the art and science of communicating in a way which hides the
existence of the secret message communication. It aims to hide information /covered writing.
Information to be protected is hidden in another data known as cover or carrier. Data
containing hidden message are called as Steganos or Stegos. Steganos look like cover data and
it is difficult to differentiate between them. Steganography based communication over easily
accessible platforms to prevent leakage of information.

2.1 Kerck Off Principle:

In cryptography, this principle states that "the security of the system has to be based on
the assumption that the enemy has full knowledge of the design and implementation details of
the steganographic system". The only missing information for the enemy is a short, easily
exchangeable random number sequence, the secret key.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

3. STEGANOGRAPHY METHODS
According to modification in covers, the methods can be categorized as

i. Substitution
ii. Transform domain
iii. Spread spectrum
iv. Statistical
v. Distortion
vi. Cover generation

3.1 Substitution Method

It is commonly used simple method in which we can put information bits in LSB
sequentially at fixed place, randomly at fixed place or randomly at random places in cover
pixels. The message to be protected passes through scanning, coding, encryption process to
form an embedded message.

Scanning, coding, encryption steps make the information unintelligible so that one
cannot extract plain message.

Embedding make the message invisible so that one cannot detect it. Reshaping spreads
the message so that embedded message can be detected from distorted steganos by
authorized receivers.

Cover processing makes detection of embedded message more difficult since the
distortion is either due to noise addition or due to message embedding. This would increases
the robustness and security. Many attacks on such steganographic systems are suggested.
Some attacks that can be applied are given below:

a. Stego-Only Attack
b. Message-Stego Attack
c. Cover-Stego Attack
d. Message-Cover-Stego Attack

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

3.2 Proposed Method

The framework of proposed Steganography Based Information Protection method is
shown in Fig 1. Its description is presented in the following steps.

FRAME WORK OF SBIPM

Encryption Key.
Other Keys

Embedding
Cover Work Stego
Algorithm
Work

Information to
Hide

Fig 1: Frame Work of Steganography Based Information Protection Method

3.3 Visual Perception

For any steganography based secure system, the perception of steganos should be as
cover image itself so that one cannot differentiate them and detect the existence of embedded
message.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Fig 2: Scheme of Steganography

3.4 Difference Analysis

The "difference-images” obtained by taking the difference between cover or processed
cover and stego image are invisible. For making the difference visible in "difference-images”, for
visual interpretation, we first increase differences by multiplication of weight factor and then
revert the values to get strengthened "difference-images". From analysis of these "difference-
images ", on could not say that the changes are either due to cover processing or message
embedding and hence we can say that the method is safe from known cover-stego attack.

3.5 Distortion Analysis

Distortion analysis of stego images is carried out by studying distortion / similarity
messages statistically. There are many methods for measuring distortion that can be used for
distortion analysis. Distortion between two different images is measured by considering Mean
Square Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE) or Histogram Similarity (HS).

3.6 Depth Vs Distortion Analysis

Distortion occurred in different steganos is required by varying the depth of hiding for
embedding information in cover image. The relation between depth of hiding used and
distortion occurred in the stego images is shown in Fig. that depth of hiding within some LSB
region is most suitable for message embedding as the distortion is very small in this region. As
the depth of hiding increases beyond preferable region, the distortion becomes noticeable and
unsuitable for message hiding.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Fig 3: Depth Vs Distortion Analysis

3.7 Steganography in Images

In this section we deal with data encoding in still digital images. In essence, image
steganography is about exploiting the limited powers of the human visual system (HVS). Within
reason, any plain text, cipher text, other images, or anything that can be embedded in a bit
stream can be hidden in an image.

When embedding data, it is important to remember the following restrictions and features:

 The cover data should not be significantly degraded by the embedded data, and the
embedded data should be as imperceptible as possible. (This does not mean the
embedded data needs to be invisible; it is possible for the data to be hidden while it
remains in plain sight.)

 The embedded data should be directly encoded into the media, rather than into a
header or wrapper, to maintain data consistency across formats.

 The embedded data should be as immune as possible to modifications from intelligent

attacks or anticipated manipulations such as filtering and resampling. Some distortion or
degradation of the embedded data can be expected when the cover data is modified. To
minimize this, error correcting codes should be used. The embedded data should be
self-clocking or arbitrarily re-entrant. This ensures that the embedded data can still be
extracted when only a portion of the cover data is available. For example, if only a part
of image is available, the embedded data should still be recoverable.

4. STEGANOGRAPHY DIAGRAMAT1C FLOW

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Fig 4: Steganography Diagrammatic Flow

4.1 Images
To a computer, an image is an array of numbers that represent light intensities at
various points, or pixels. These pixels make up the image's raster data. An image size of 640 by
480 pixels, utilizing 256 colors (8 bits per pixel) is fairly common. Such an image would contain
around 300 kilobits of data.

Digital images are typically stored in either 24-bit or 8-bit per pixel fades. 24-bit images
are sometimes known as true color images. Obviously, a 24-bit image provides more space for
hiding information; however, 24-bit images are generally large and not that common. A 24-bit
image 1024 pixels wide by 768 pixels high would have a size in excess of 2 megabytes. As such,
large files would attract attention were they to be transmitted across a network or the Internet.
Image compression is desirable. However, compression brings with it other problems that shall
be explained shortly.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Alternatively, 8-bit color images can be used to hide information. In 8-bit color images,
(such as GIF files), each pixel is represented as a single byte. Each pixel merely points to a color
index table, or palette, with 256 possible colors. The pixel's value, then, is between 0 and 255.
The image software merely needs to paint the indicated color on the screen at the selected
pixel position.

If using an 8-bit image as the cover-image, many steganography experts recommend

using images featuring 256 shades of gray as the palette, for reasons that will become
apparent. Grey-scale images are preferred because the shades change very gradually between
palette entries. This increases the image's ability to hide information.

When dealing with 8-bit images, the steganographer will need to consider the image as
well as the palette. Obviously, an image with large areas of solid color is a poor choice, as
variances created by embedded data might be noticeable. Once a suitable cover image has
been selected, an image encoding technique needs to be chosen.

4.2 Image Compression

Image compression offers a solution to large image files. Two kinds of image
compression are lossless and lossy compression. Both methods save storage space but have
differing effects on any uncompressed hidden data in the image.

Lossy compression, as typified by JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format files,
offers high compression, but may not maintain the original image's integrity. This can impact
negatively on any hidden data in the image. This is due to the lossy compression algorithm,
which may "lose" unnecessary image data, providing a close approximation to high-quality
digital images, but not an exact duplicate. Hence, the term" Tossy" compression. Lossy
compression is frequently used on true-color images, as it offers high compression rates.

Lossless compression maintains the original image data exactly; hence it is preferred
when the original information must remain intact. It is thus more favoured by steganographic
techniques. Unfortunately, lossless compression does not offer such high compression rates as
lossy compression. Typical examples of lossless compression formats are CompuServe’s GIF
(Graphics Interchange Format) and Microsoft's BMP (Bitmap) format.

5. IMAGE ENCODING TECHNIQUES

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Information can be hidden many different ways in images. Straight message insertion
can be done, which will simply encode every bit of information in the image. More complex
encoding can be done to embed the message only in "noisy" areas of the image that will attract
less attention. The message may also be scattered randomly throughout the cover image.

The most common approaches to information hiding in images are:

 Least significant bit (LSB) insertion

 Masking and filtering techniques
 Algorithms and transformations

Each of these can be applied to various images, with varying degrees of success. Each of
them suffers to varying degrees from operations performed on images, such as cropping, or
resolution decrementing, or decreases in the color depth.

5.1 Least Significant Bit Insertion

One of the most common techniques used in steganography today is called least
significant bit (LSB) insertion. This method is exactly what it sounds like; the least significant bits
of the cover-image are altered so that they form the embedded information. The following
example shows how the letter A can be hidden in the first eight bytes of three pixels in a 24-bit
image.

Pixels: (00100111 11101001 11001000)

(00100111 11001000 11101001) (11001000 00100111 11101001)

A: 10000001

Result: (00100111 11101000 11001000)

(00100110 11001000 11101000) (11001000 00100111 11101001)

The three underlined bits are the only three bits that were actually altered. LSB insertion
requires on average that only half the bits in an image be changed. Since the 8-bit letter A only

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

requires eight bytes to hide it in, the ninth byte of the three pixels can be used to hide the next
character of the hidden message.

A slight variation of this technique allows for embedding the message in two or more of
the least significant bits per byte. This increases the hidden information capacity of the cover-
object, but the cover-object degrades more statistically, and it is more detectable. Other
variations on this technique include ensuring that statistical changes in the image do not occur.
Some intelligent software also checks for areas that are made up of one solid color. Changes in
these pixels are then avoided because slight changes would cause noticeable variations in the
area.

5.2 Advantages of LSB Insertion

Major advantage of the LSB algorithm is it is quick and easy. There has also been
steganography software developed which work around LSB color alterations via palette
manipulation.

LSB insertion also works well with gray-scale images. A slight variation of this technique
allows for embedding the message in two or more of the least significant bits per byte. This
increases the hidden information capacity.

5.3 Masking and Filtering

Masking and filtering techniques hide information by marking an image in a manner
similar to paper watermarks. Because watermarking techniques are more integrated into the
image, they may be applied without fear of image destruction from lossy compression. By
covering, or masking a faint but perceptible signal with another to make the first non-
perceptible, we exploit the fact that the human visual system cannot detect slight changes in
certain temporal domains of the image.

Technically, watermarking is not a steganographic form. Strictly, steganography

conceals data in the image; watermarking extends the image information and becomes an
attribute of the cover image, providing license, ownership or copyright details.

Masking techniques are more suitable for use in lossy JPEG images than LSB insertion
because of their relative immunity to image operations such as compression and cropping.

5.4 Algorithms and Transformations

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

Because they are high quality color images with good compression, it is desirable to use
JPEG images across networks such as the Internet. Indeed, JPEG images are becoming abundant
on the Internet.

JPEG images use the discrete cosine transform (DCT) to achieve compression. DCT is a
lossy compression transform, because the cosine values cannot be calculated precisely, and
rounding errors may be introduced. Variances between the original data and the recovered
data depend on the values and methods used to calculate the DCT.

Images can also be processed using fast Fourier transformation and wavelet
transformation. Other properties such as luminance can also be utilized. The HVS has a very low
sensitivity to small changes in luminance, being able to discern changes of no less than one part
in thirty for random patterns. This figure goes up to one part in 240 for uniform regions of an
image.

Modern steganographic systems use spread-spectrum communications to transmit a

narrowband signal over a much larger bandwidth so that the spectral density of the signal in
the channel looks like noise.

The two different spread-spectrum techniques these tools employ are called direct-
sequence and frequency hopping. The former hides information by phase-modulating the data
signal (carrier) with a pseudorandom number sequence that both the sender and the receiver
know. The latter divides the available bandwidth into multiple channels and hops between
these channels (also triggered by a pseudorandom number sequence).

The Patchwork method is based on a pseudorandom, statistical process that takes

advantage of the human weaknesses to luminance variation. Using redundant pattern encoding
to repeatedly scatter hidden information throughout the cover image, like a patchwork,
Patchwork can hide a reasonably small message many times in a image. In the Patchwork
method, n pairs of image points (a, b) are randomly chosen. The brightness of a is decreased by
one and the brightness of b is increased by one. For a labeled image, the expected value of the
sum of the differences of the n pairs of points is then 2n. Bender shows that after JPEG
compression, with the quality factor set to 75, the message can still be decoded with an 85.

This algorithm is more robust to image processing such as cropping and rotating, but at
the cost of message size. Techniques such as Patchwork are ideal for watermarking of images.
Even if the image is cropped, there is a good probability that the watermark will still be
readable.

Other techniques encrypt and scatter the hidden throughout the image in some pre-
determined manner. It is assumed that even if the message bits are extracted, they will be

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

useless without the algorithm and stego-key to decode them. Although such techniques do help
protect against hidden message extraction, they are not immune to destruction of the hidden
message through image manipulation.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

6. SYSTEM DESIGN

These are the steps followed in image hiding while transmission and de-noising after
receiving:

1. Step1: Get a cover image (publicly accessible material)

2. Step2: Take the information to be hidden (message or image)
3. Step3: Combine cover image with the information to be hidden(we follow LSB
algorithm)
4. Step4: While transmission it will be corrupted by noise
5. Step5: Use any of the filtering methods, ex: wiener filtering for de noising in wavelet
domain
6. Step6: Here filter is employed in order to remove the noise
7. Step7: During extraction a password check is provided
8. Step8: If password is matched then extraction of hidden information.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

7. SECURITY
A method, SBIPM, for providing the security of our important information is based on
the techniques of signal processing, cryptography, and steganography. The security of
information has been strengthened by applying scanning, coding, and encryption, cover
processing and embedding techniques in the method. Reshaping step of the method provides
robustness for detecting message correctly in such situation when stego image is distorted. The
method developed is safe from various attacks. Simulation and steganalysis results shown in
this paper infer that one will not be able to distinguish between cover and stego images.

Thus we conclude that the strength of security achieved is very high and unauthorized
receiver will not be able to get back the original message using even after exhaustive methods
without the knowledge of key parameters.

Digital Steganography is interesting field and growing rapidly for information hiding in
the area of information security. It plays a vital role in defense as well as civil applications. In
future we will more of secure systems based on this technology. Several methods for hiding
data in, images were described, with appropriate introductions to the environments of each
medium, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of each method. The key algorithm for
designing the steganography system has been dealt. Most data-hiding systems take advantage
of human perceptual weaknesses, but have weaknesses of their own. We conclude that for
now, it seems that no system of data-hiding is totally immune to attack.

However, steganography has its place in security. Though it cannot replace cryptography
totally, it is intended to supplement it. Its application in watermarking and fingerprinting, for
use in detection of unauthorized, illegally copied material, is continually being realized and
developed.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

8. FUTURE SCOPE
In this report many relevant issues were presented, from a technical point of view.
However, little has been done to motivate these studies. A more detailed investigation of
applications, and a comparison with current techniques in steganography would have been
interesting. For example, a thorough evaluation of the advantages natural language-based
techniques can offer over image-based techniques could have offered valuable insights.

An important contribution of this project to natural language steganography is the linguistic

sophistication of the model for word-substitution put forward. The lexical models employed in
current substitution-based systems were often criticized and their inadequate behavior usually
described with respect to language theory. These phenomena could have been demonstrated
by example, showing texts and inadequate replacements carried out by current stego-systems.
A more detailed analysis of how common these critical situations really are in typical text could
have given clues for the construction of such systems, to decide whether the additional
complexity introduced by statistical word-sense disambiguation is worth the effort.

Other linguistic models have been studied, in addition to the lexical ones, and put in relation
to each other, and to their use for steganographic purposes. The steganographic aspects were
then covered by information-theoretic models. However, little has been done to justify this
choice. It might have been fruitful to present other characterizations of steganography and to
compare their suitability to natural language steganography.

A central part of the problem motivating this report was that there are no models
formalizing the design and analysis of natural language stegosystems. Although the present
report somewhat improves the situation, by providing a systematic investigation of the topic,
there is still no system to build upon for making formal claims about security or robustness in
the natural language scenario.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

9. CONCLUSION
Several methods for hiding data in, images were described, with appropriate
introductions to the environments of each medium, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of
each method. The key algorithm for designing the steganography system has been dealt. Most
data-hiding systems take advantage of human perceptual weaknesses, but have weaknesses of
their own. We conclude that for now, it seems that no system of data-hiding is totally immune
to attack.

However, steganography has its place in security. Though it cannot replace cryptography
totally, it is intended to supplement it. Its application in watermarking and fingerprinting, for
use in detection of unauthorized, illegally copied material, is continually being realized and
developed.

Also, in places where standard cryptography and encryption is outlawed, steganography

can be used for covert data transmission. Steganography can be used along with cryptography
to make a highly secure data high way. Formerly just an interest of the military, Steganography
is now gaining popularity among the masses. Soon, any computer user will be able to put his
own watermark on his artistic creations.

Thus we conclude that the strength of security achieved is very high and unauthorized
receiver will not be able to get back the original message using exhaustive without the
knowledge of key parameters.

Digital Steganography is interesting field and growing rapidly for information hiding in
the area of information security. It plays a vital role in defense as well as civil applications.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011

 I

10. REFERENCES
[1] B.Schneier, “Terrorists and Steganography”, 24 Sep. 2001,
http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2814256,00.html

[2] Y. Linde, A. Buzo, and R. M. Gray, “An Algorithm for Vector Quantizer Design,” IEEE Transactions on
Communications, pp. 84-95, January 1989

[3] Andersen, R.J., Petitcolas, F.A.P., On the limits of steganography. IEEE Journal of Selected Areas in
Communications, Special Issue on Copyright and Privacy Protection 16 No.4 (1998)

[4] Johnson, Neil F. and Jajodia, Sushil. “Steganography: Seeing the Unseen.” IEEE Computer February
1998, pp.2634.

[5] William Stallings; Cryptography and Network Security: Principals and Practice, Prentice Hall
international, Inc.; 2002.

[6] Eric Cole ,"Hiding in Plain Sight: Steganography and the Art of Covert Communication"

[7] Gregory Kipper,"Investigator's Guide to Steganography "

[8] Stefan Katzenbeisser and Fabien, A.P. Petitcolas ," Information Hiding Techniques for Steganography
and Digital Watermarking "

[9] Hiding secrets in computer files: steganography is the new invisible ink, as codes stow away on
images-An article from: The Futurist by Patrick Tucker

[10] Ismail Avcıbas¸, Member, IEEE, Nasir Memon,Member, IEEE, and Bülent Sankur, Member,
"Steganalysis Using Image Quality Metrics," IEEE Transactions on Image Processing, Vol 12, No.2,
February 2003

[11] Niels Provos and Peter Honeyman, University of Michigan, "Hide and Seek: An Introduction to
Steganography" IEEE Computer Society IEEE Security &Privacy.

[12] R. Chandramouli and Nasir Memon, "Analysis of LSB Based Image Steganography Techniques",
IEEE 2001.

Image Based Steganography Using LSB Insertion Technique 2010-2011