1. Hidden Communications: The Effectiveness of Steganography
Gregory Taylor – Cary High School
Summer Ventures in Science and Math – Visualization and Image Processing
Appalachian State University – July 2009
Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, Mr. Jere Miles & Ms. Biva Shrestha

2. Introduction What is steganography? Dates back to the Greeks
Centered around avoiding detection
Many different types

3. Methods Create a steganographic image
Alter the image using different filters
Attempt to re-extract the message
Analyze how much of the message remained intact and the effects of the filters

4. The Image Original image was color Made smaller and grayscale
Final product
Create the message
Hello there! If you are reading this, then you probably already know what this message is about. If you don't know what this message is about, then just stop reading right now. I'm serious. This message is not for you. The purpose of writing this was to communicate the details of a secret plot. If you are not a part of this secret plot, once again, you should stop reading now. (This space is empty) (This space is still empty) Stop it now. Really. Reading this message will not give you some sort of incredible knowledge that you will be able to use in your daily life. This stuff is top secret. For realz. Look! I can talk like a gangsta. Fo shizzle! (...) (...) Why has my failure at being cool not yet scared you away? It always works! By the way, I'm not even going to disclose my secret plot in this message. Why would I? You're obviously reading this when you shouldn't be. If I disclose now, then you might ruin our totally awesome plan! So, I'm not going to tell you. The End ,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,.,. Still not telling you.... ;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;:;: It's the last paragraph. It's the last chance to disclose. Will I? Does it even matter now? I guess it depends on you now. *

5. Create and Test the Stego-Object
Encrypt the message
Decrypt the message
If full message is the result, methods are confirmed functional
Save as a text image
Extract least significant digit binary
Compare with the stego-message binary
Make appropriate changes
Resave as a new text image
Open text image
Extract least significant digit binary
Plug into binary to ASCII converter
Record results

6. Filter and Test A total of 14 filters used, but only 12 useful
Extract the message from each filtered image
Record results
Save as a PNG file
Enhance contrast on the image*
Save as a JPG file
Raise the contrast of the images by an even value
Save as a GIF file
Save as a BMP file
Raise the contrast of the image by an odd value
Save as a BMP file using GIMP*
Sharpen the image
Lower the brightness of the image
Blur the image
Raise the brightness of the image
Use edge detection on the image
Add random noise to the image

7. Results Different Binary Characters Different Binary Percentage
Different ASCII Characters
Different ASCII Percentage
Raw Stego
0.00%
PNG
3104
31.04%
802
64.16%
JPG
4743
47.43%
1226
98.08%
GIF
BMP
BMP GIMP*
Sharpen
5531
55.31%
1204
96.32%
Blur
4838
48.38%
1242
99.36%
Edge Detection
4975
49.75%
1243
99.44%
Enhance Contrast*
Raise Contrast (E)
7249
72.49%
1220
97.60%
Raise Contrast (O)
2761
27.61%
780
62.40%
Darken
3268
32.68%
770
61.60%
Brighten
3172
31.72%
766
61.28%
Noise
188
1.88%
128
10.24%

8. Results

9. Results
PNG
JPG
Contrast (O)
Contrast (E)

10. Conclusions Steganography effective in hiding messages
Active filtering as seen here easily destroys messages hidden in this way
Steganography an active growing field
Basic encryption

11. Thank you! Dr. Rahman Tashakkori Acknowledgements Mr. Jere Miles
Ms. Biva Shrestha