Article: Text steganography using linear congruence Journal: International Journal of Information Technology, Communications and Convergence (IJITCC) 2024 Vol.4 No.3 pp.237 - 264 Abstract: Steganography and cryptography are the two most commonly used approaches for sending a secret message but they may make the system vulnerable to others if used individually. Therefore, an integrated approach consisting of steganography and cryptography can give more security and robustness. This article presents a novel text-based steganographic solution to conceal data through linear congruence and encrypt it using cryptography. The proposed steganography approach is based on the key generation process and does not insert or overwrite bits in the cover text. The cover text remains in its original form with no changes or additions. A hidden message is sent based on the stego-key, generated with a mapping function of the cover text using linear congruence and the automated encryption algorithm. The secret message is retrieved from the cover text at the receiver using this key and the inverse automatic encryption algorithm. The approach uses simple file manipulation and a modified linearly congruential pseudo-random number generator implementation. The intact or unchanged cover text can prevent the detection of hidden text by most of the conventional stegano-analysis techniques and thereby offers an effective method of communicating hidden or secret messages between sender and receiver. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Text steganography using linear congruence

Authors: Ravneet Kaur; Ankit Pant; Fnu Avi; Parag Jain; Vibha Gaur

Addresses: Department of Electronic Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110019, India ' Department of Computer Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110019, India ' Department of Computer Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110019, India ' Department of Computer Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110019, India ' Department of Computer Science, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi, Delhi – 110019, India

Abstract: Steganography and cryptography are the two most commonly used approaches for sending a secret message but they may make the system vulnerable to others if used individually. Therefore, an integrated approach consisting of steganography and cryptography can give more security and robustness. This article presents a novel text-based steganographic solution to conceal data through linear congruence and encrypt it using cryptography. The proposed steganography approach is based on the key generation process and does not insert or overwrite bits in the cover text. The cover text remains in its original form with no changes or additions. A hidden message is sent based on the stego-key, generated with a mapping function of the cover text using linear congruence and the automated encryption algorithm. The secret message is retrieved from the cover text at the receiver using this key and the inverse automatic encryption algorithm. The approach uses simple file manipulation and a modified linearly congruential pseudo-random number generator implementation. The intact or unchanged cover text can prevent the detection of hidden text by most of the conventional stegano-analysis techniques and thereby offers an effective method of communicating hidden or secret messages between sender and receiver.

Keywords: steganography; cryptography; steganalysis; text-steganography; mapping function; sender; receiver.

DOI: 10.1504/IJITCC.2024.145821

International Journal of Information Technology, Communications and Convergence, 2024 Vol.4 No.3, pp.237 - 264

Accepted: 26 Sep 2024
Published online: 25 Apr 2025 *

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Title: Text steganography using linear congruence

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