Open Access

REVIEW

Unveiling the Hidden Pixels: A Comprehensive Exploration of Digital Image Steganography Schemes

Nagaraj V. Dharwadkar^*

Department of Computer Science, Central University of Karnataka, Kadaganchi, 585367, India

* Corresponding Author: Nagaraj V. Dharwadkar. Email:

Journal of Information Hiding and Privacy Protection 2025, 7, 1-31. https://doi.org/10.32604/jihpp.2025.060898

Received 12 November 2024; Accepted 23 January 2025; Issue published 27 March 2025

Abstract

Steganography, the art of concealing information within innocuous mediums, has been practiced for centuries and continues to evolve with advances in digital technology. In the modern era, steganography has become an essential complementary tool to cryptography, offering an additional layer of security, stealth, and deniability in digital communications. With the rise of cyber threats such as hacking, malware, and phishing, it is crucial to adopt methods that protect the confidentiality and integrity of data. This review focuses specifically on text-in-image steganography, exploring a range of techniques, including Least Significant Bit (LSB), Pixel Value Differencing (PVD), and Transform Domain methods, to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world applications. The analysis covers key parameters such as embedding capacity, computational complexity, and the interplay with data compression and cryptographic techniques. While significant progress has been made in improving the security and quality of images in steganographic systems, challenges remain. For instance, higher payloads can lead to reduced Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), compromising image quality. Despite these limitations, recent advancements show promising results in balancing security with minimal distortion. This paper provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of current techniques, highlighting future research directions that may enhance both the robustness and efficiency of steganographic methods in digital security.

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Keywords

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