Diversified Cover Selection for Image Steganography

Abstract

This paper proposes a new cover selection method for steganography. We focus on the scenario that the available images for selection contain diversified sources, i.e., nature images and metaverse images. For the scenario, we design a targeted strategy to evaluate the suitability for steganography of a candidate image, which selects images according to the undetectability against steganalytic tools symmetrically. Firstly, steganalytic features of the candidate images are extracted. Then, the features are fed on a steganalytic classifier, and the possibility of carrying secret data is calculated for cover selection. As a result, the selected images are the best candidates to resist steganalysis. Experimental results show that our method performs better than existing cover selection schemes when checked by steganalytic tools.

Recent Advances in Steganography

“…Cover Selection and Generation (CS&G) refers to the process of selecting or creating cover objects that possess statistical features ideal for effectively concealing information. This can be achieved by either choosing cover objects having inherent properties that make them good for hiding information, as discussed in [10], or by producing synthetic cover objects that are particularly designed for steganography, as mentioned in [11]. The use of CS&G techniques can significantly enhance the concealment of hidden information.…”

Domain Transformation of Distortion Costs for Efficient JPEG Steganography with Symmetric Embedding

“…Image steganography is the science and art of covert communication, which embeds secret messages into cover images to generate the corresponding stego images that can be transmitted through open channels without drawing suspicion [1][2][3][4][5][6]. By using the advantages of steganography, people can achieve secure communication without being detected by network monitors, and it is worth noting that the steganography is not the same as but is supplementary to cryptography, because the former emphasizes the undetectability of communication while the latter emphasizes the secrecy of data.…”

“…Typically, this strategy offers two key advantages for enhancing the security of JPEG steganography: (1) The availability of diverse and effective JPEG distortion cost functions increases the difficulty of detection for steganalyzers, thereby enhancing steganographic security. (2) The utilization of welldesigned spatial steganographic schemes helps to improve security by reducing the spatial artifacts introduced by the embedding modifications in the JPEG domain, considering that the accurate detection of JPEG steganography is mostly achieved with steganalysis features that are extracted from the spatial domain [26][27][28] rather than from the JPEG domain [29].…”