General Principles of Integrity Checking of Digital Images and Application for Steganalysis

Abstract

The new common approach for integrity checking of digital images is developed. The new features of formal parameters defining image are revealed, theoretically grounded and practically tested. The characteristics of the mutual arrangement of left and right singular vectors corresponding to the largest singular value of the image’s matrix (block of matrix) and the vector composed of singular numbers is obtained. Formal parameters are obtained using normal singular decomposition of matrix (block of matrix) which is uniquely determined. It is shown that for most blocks of original image (no matter lossy or lossless) the angle between the left (right) mentioned singular vector and vector composed of singular numbers is defined by the angle between the n-optimal vector and the vector of standard basis of the range corresponding dimension. It is shown that the determined feature brakes for the mentioned formal parameters in a non-original image. This shows the integrity violation of the image, i.e. the existence of the additional information embedded using steganography algorithms. So this can be used as a basis for development of new universal steganography methods and algorithms, and one example of the realization is proposed. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm won’t depend on the details of steganography method used for embedding. All the obtained results can be easily adapted for the digital video and audio analysis.

Steganalysis method efficient for the hidden communication channel with low capacity

“…The condition (1) obviously also holds for elements of vectors T  and J  , which further will be called the normalized SN. In [15], a general approach to solve the problem of identifying violations of the DI integrity was proposed. It is based on the perturbation theory and matrix analysis and underlies further reasoning.…”

Universal Approach to the Identification of Steganographic Transformation of the Spatial Domain of Digital Images

“…Steganalysis in the domain of singular decomposition of matrices represented by works [17,18] is less common. However, in these methods we can see low efficiency of detecting stego at small values of payload.…”

Method for detecting digital image integrity violations due to its block processing

“…The detection of data integrity violations nowadays is one of the most significant issues for specialists in the field of information security [1][2][3]. In particular, this problem is highly relevant to digital images (DI), which this paper is dedicated to.…”

“…Integrity violations of digital images occur when they are used as containers in modern steganographic systems. The frequency of such systems use is growing every day [3][4][5]. The organization of a hidden communication channel can lead to material damage to individual enterprises, firms, banks, etc.…”

“…Great attention is paid to the solution of this problem in the digital image examination [3,6]. However, the final solution has not been introduced yet, and the task of developing new methods for the detection of image integrity violations is still urgent.…”