Term_Paper_Final_.docx

The Realm of Steganography

Taylor Provencher

Liberty University

Abstract

Technology continues to evolve which is allowing for opportunities in the aspect of digital

steganography. Steganography is when messages or data is hidden from view. Steganography

continues to cause major issues in the cybercrime division. Forensic experts should focus more

attention on learning the proper training and defenses to decipher and prevent steganography

cybercrime. This paper will focus on the different methods and techniques of steganography, its

Introduction

Steganography has immersed into the technology realm because of the inflation of the

Internet and computer power. There are several new ways to send digital information in an

encrypted and protected demeanor. This causes many questions on the aspect of cyber security.

Steganography has various aspects that address the need for proper security and defenses.

Before understanding a topic, it is important to first understand the root or origin of the

electronic commerce, where they are used to prevent illegal uses of digital information”

(Munuera, 2007).

These techniques can be simple or extremely complicated depending on the steganographic

algorithm and method used.

Besides the growth of the Internet, information and data security has become an

extremely pressing issue in the aspects of technology and the digital realm. Communications that

are exchanged over the Internet will continue to rise because of the criminal use of digital

steganography. The rise in these steganographic criminal attacks is because of the profit and

opportunities that comes from an intrusion. That is the key goal that motivates any intruder to

seek to steal from a helpless victim.

Several scientific journals explain the process and methods that correlate with the topic of

digital steganography.

According to the article, “Comparative Study of Digital Audio Steganography

Techniques” by Fatiha Djebbar and other authors states, “The growing use of Internet

among public masses and the abundant availability of public and private digital data has

driven industry professionals and researchers to pay a particular attention to data

steganography, and video steganography. Text steganography consists of hiding a text or

multiple texts behind other text file(s). Three way that individuals can hide text behind different

text file(s) is by format-based method, random and statistical method, and linguistics method.

As for image steganography, it is a two-step process. First, the combination of message

and carrier via creating a stego image (Babita & Kaus, 2017). The next step is to extract the

hidden message image from the created stego image (Babita & Kaus, 2017). Image

steganography can be broken down into four sub-techniques. Those techniques include the

following: spatial domain technique, transform domain technique, distortion technique, and

masking and filtering.

Spatial domain happens when bits are changed to hide the data. These changes occur

within the pixel’s values. Transform domain is when information or data is ingrained in the

transform space. According to Aiswarya Baby and Hema Krishnan, “In this domain, the image

is transformed from spatial domain to frequency domain by using any transforms and after a

from the message in the least bit of the cover audio in a deterministic way” (Djebbar, Ayad,

Meraim & Harram, 2012). Unfortunately, there is a downfall to this traditional way of low-bit

encoding. This type of method symbolizes the low robustness to noise addition. What this means

is that this method lacks security achievement because of the constant vulnerability even to

straightforward attacks.

The next part of audio steganography is phase coding. Phase coding is the process of

replacing preferred phase segments from audio signal spectrum with original hidden data. Phase

segments must remain small so that inaudibility is ensured. The third part of audio steganography

is spread spectrum. This particular method uses a frequency spectrum to send and receive hidden

data. Djebbar and other authors explain what this means, “basically, data are multiplied by an

M- sequence code known to both sender and receiver, then hidden in the cover audio” (Djebbar,

Ayad, Meraim & Harram, 2012). The final ‘part of audio steganography is echo hiding. By

creating an echo to enhance the signal of the host it will embed data into proper audio noises and

signals. This then creates an echo signal that involves the following components: initial

yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay,

saith the Lord” (King James Version).

Participation in Cybercrime

Steganography has started a digital revolution in the cybercrime unit. There are two

major crimes that utilize steganography and those are terrorists and pedophile groups. Terrorist

groups such as al-Qaeda use favorite websites to communicate via hidden messages or images.

According to Natasha Garcia, “In 2010, a Russian spy ring conversed and connected by posting

images encoded with secret messages to public websites. The Department of Justice (DOJ)

recovered over one hundred messages that were concealed within online pictures” (Garcia,

2018). As for pedophile groups, “Shadowz Brotherhood” was a group known for using material

involving children hidden within image files. This group was uncovered by the European Police

Office (Europol), which in turn allowed for this office to discover the steganographic

applications being used.

Corporate, organizational, societal, national, international, and military levels are

available to reduce the involvement steganography has in cybercrime.

Training and Defenses

Lately, forensic specialists have not been interested in specializing in digital

steganography because steganography has been perceived as a non-threating issue within the

cybercrime field. Digital steganography does pose a threat to the cybercrime field. There are

several types of threats that digital steganography is involved with. Child pornography groups

and terrorist groups commonly use steganography to conceal the groups data and

communications between each other. This information should give light to the reason why

there should be proper training and security and defense protocols available.

One training program that is available is Black Hat. Black Hat allows a training program

to be available for forensic specialists to become familiar with the up-to-date steganographic

techniques and tools. According to Garcia, “This hands-on course also provides trainees with

experience in the latest investigation methods such as analyzing and recovering hidden data in

(King James Version).

The one form of security model that is available involves the use of visual cryptography

and the neural network. This essentially means that a AES algorithm is needed to be used to

properly use a certain cryptography technique. According to Baby and Krishnan explains the

AES algorithm does the following: “The cover image is divided into blocks and energy

coefficient for each block is identified using IWT. The neural network is used to identify the

best location in host image in order to embed the secret data” (Baby & Krishnan, 2017).

Providing security and defenses against steganography does not have to be as complicated as

finding an

algorithm but rather simply by examining the strengthens and weaknesses of digital

steganography. This allows for the opportunity to implement proper strategic security and

defenses against malicious acts and crimes committed while using digital steganography.

One aspect of security against digital steganography is heavily reliant upon the efficiency

of steganographic noise. According to Hai-Tao Song and other authors explains, “After secret

messages being embedded totally, when the KL divergence between the cover image and the

personnel as well. It is important to be well-versed with the topic so that when the time comes

forensic science specialists and law enforcement personnel can take the necessary precautions

and steps to stop the criminals that are missing steganography.

Now because of the progression of the Internet, attacks have amplified on communication

computer users.

According to Baby and Krishnan, “Protecting the data is a big challenge for computer

users. Cryptography and steganography are widely used techniques to ensure

security. Both techniques have many applications in computer science and other