Matrix combination in strip conversion for implementing hidden messages in the image

Abstract

Steganography is a methodology for transmitting sensitive information while remaining undetected by an outside observer. One of the widely used approaches in this field is embedding hidden messages in various files, with special emphasis on the secrecy of the transmission process and the possibility of increasing the amount of data carried. The modification of the Least Significant Bit (LSB) method for embedding hidden messages in a graphical image proposed in this paper represents a step forward in improving steganographic techniques. This method is based on an innovative bandpass transform, where the embedded message is perceived as visible «noise» or interference added to the image. A key step in this process is the professional isolation of said noise from the signal, which allows for the extraction of the transmitted secret message with high accuracy. The uniqueness of the new method is manifested in the use of a complex combination of several matrices to «mix» the image fragments. Through experiments, different combinations of matrices were selected to provide a higher signal-to-noise ratio. The results obtained confirm that the new method, compared to conventional bandpass transform, shows a significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio. This, in turn, enhances the ability to embed longer secret messages, improving the overall efficiency of the steganographic process.