01-04-2011, 03:26 PM
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1. Introduction
Digital multimedia data provides a robust and easy editing and modifying of data. The data can be delivered over computer networks with little to no errors and often without interference.
Unfortunately, digital media distribution raises a concern for digital content owners. Digital data can be copied without any loss in quality and content. This poses a big problem for the protection of intellectual property rights of copyright owners. Watermarking is a solution to the problem. It can be defined as embedding digital data, such as information about the owner, recipient, and access level, without being detectable in the host multimedia data.
Steganography relies on hiding covert message in unsuspected multimedia data and is generally used in secret communication between acknowledged parties. Steganography is a method of encryption that hides data among the bits of a cover file, such as a graphic or an audio file. The technique replaces unused or insignificant bits with the secret data. Steganography is not as robust to attacks since the embedded data is vulnerable to destruction.
Watermarking has the feature of robustness against attacks. Even if the existence and method of embedding the data is known, it may be difficult to destroy the hidden data.
Data hiding and data embedding can be classified as methods between steganography and watermarking.
1.1 Project Goal
The goal of the project is to construct an introductory tutorial on the subject of steganography, mainly focused on embedding text data in digital images.
Additionally, the tutorial walks through two steganographic program examples.
1.2 Motivation
The primary reason for selecting steganography among the list of possible project topics was due to the unfamiliarity of the word that twigged an interest in the subject.
Another motivation for researching the topic was after reading an online article in the USA Today titled “Terror groups hide behind Web encryption” that claims terrorists and, in particular, Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida network, may be using steganography to communicate with each other in planning terrorist attacks. It is thought that images with hidden messages are placed on bulletin boards or dead drops for other terrorists to pick up and retrieve hidden messages. Thus far, this supposition has yet to be proven.
1.3 Resources
The single resource dedicated to the project is the author of the report.
2. Background Research
The primary tool used in the research of steganography and watermarking is the Internet.
The first objective was to understand the various terminologies related to the field. This was done through the Wikipedia and the hyperdictionary websites.
Additional technical details were obtained from various articles listed under the References and Bibliography section.
The following points can be attributed to the renaissance of steganography:
• Government ban on digital cryptography. Individuals and companies who seek confidentiality look to steganography as an important complementary since combining cryptography and steganography can help in avoiding suspicion and protect privacy.
• The increased need to protect intellectual property rights by digital content owners, using efficient watermarking.
• The trend towards electronic communications and humans desire to conceal messages from curious eyes. With rapid advancement in technology, steganographic software is becoming effective in hiding information in image, audio or text files.
1. Introduction
Digital multimedia data provides a robust and easy editing and modifying of data. The data can be delivered over computer networks with little to no errors and often without interference.
Unfortunately, digital media distribution raises a concern for digital content owners. Digital data can be copied without any loss in quality and content. This poses a big problem for the protection of intellectual property rights of copyright owners. Watermarking is a solution to the problem. It can be defined as embedding digital data, such as information about the owner, recipient, and access level, without being detectable in the host multimedia data.
Steganography relies on hiding covert message in unsuspected multimedia data and is generally used in secret communication between acknowledged parties. Steganography is a method of encryption that hides data among the bits of a cover file, such as a graphic or an audio file. The technique replaces unused or insignificant bits with the secret data. Steganography is not as robust to attacks since the embedded data is vulnerable to destruction.
Watermarking has the feature of robustness against attacks. Even if the existence and method of embedding the data is known, it may be difficult to destroy the hidden data.
Data hiding and data embedding can be classified as methods between steganography and watermarking.
1.1 Project Goal
The goal of the project is to construct an introductory tutorial on the subject of steganography, mainly focused on embedding text data in digital images.
Additionally, the tutorial walks through two steganographic program examples.
1.2 Motivation
The primary reason for selecting steganography among the list of possible project topics was due to the unfamiliarity of the word that twigged an interest in the subject.
Another motivation for researching the topic was after reading an online article in the USA Today titled “Terror groups hide behind Web encryption” that claims terrorists and, in particular, Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida network, may be using steganography to communicate with each other in planning terrorist attacks. It is thought that images with hidden messages are placed on bulletin boards or dead drops for other terrorists to pick up and retrieve hidden messages. Thus far, this supposition has yet to be proven.
1.3 Resources
The single resource dedicated to the project is the author of the report.
2. Background Research
The primary tool used in the research of steganography and watermarking is the Internet.
The first objective was to understand the various terminologies related to the field. This was done through the Wikipedia and the hyperdictionary websites.
Additional technical details were obtained from various articles listed under the References and Bibliography section.
The following points can be attributed to the renaissance of steganography:
• Government ban on digital cryptography. Individuals and companies who seek confidentiality look to steganography as an important complementary since combining cryptography and steganography can help in avoiding suspicion and protect privacy.
• The increased need to protect intellectual property rights by digital content owners, using efficient watermarking.
• The trend towards electronic communications and humans desire to conceal messages from curious eyes. With rapid advancement in technology, steganographic software is becoming effective in hiding information in image, audio or text files.
