What is Steganography? Learn about Computer Security.

We have seen what is Cryptography and use of cryptography. In this article we will learn more about Computer Security. We will see and learn about term 'Steganography'. We also going to see some useful free steganography tools available on internet. Se let's start.

WHAT IS STEGANOGRAPHY?

Steganography is a technique or art of hiding a secret message within an ordinary message and extraction of original secret message at destination. Steganography uses cryptography algorithms to hide an encrypted message so that no one suspects it exists. Ideally, anyone scanning your data will fail to know it contains encrypted data.

HOW STEGANOGRAPHY WORKS:

In modern digital steganogarphy, data is first encrypted by cryptography algorithms and then inserted, using a special algorithm, into redundant data that is part of a particular file format such as a images or Audio file formats - bmp, JPEG, mp3 etc. Following figure shows how it exactly works.

As shown in figure, Cover media is an image file in which secret message is stored with the help of stego key. Stego key is required to retrieve original message at destination. The cover media i.e. images contains colored pixels. By applying secret message to that image in some random or non-conspicuous way, the result will be message or data that appears to have the noise patterns of regular, non-encrypted data.

Advantages of Steganography:

• Steganography messages are difficult to detect.
• Can be applied to various file formats such as images, audio or video.
• It is used by some printers, including HP and Xerox brand colored laser printers.

Disadvantages of Steganography:

• It has number of drawbacks when compared to encryption. It requires a lot of overhead to hide a relatively few bits of information.
• Once the system is discovered, it becomes virtually worthless. This problem is solved by insertion method which uses sort of key.
• Rumors is that Modern steganography is used by group terrorists to hide their data.

That's it guys. I hope you have got basic information about steganography and its used. If you like the article please share it with your friends circle. I would appreciate if you post positive feedback regarding this article in comment section below. Thank you!