Data Security and Authentication using Steganography and STS protocol
Shaik Riyaz, J. Rajakala, M. V. Ramakrishna · International journal of advanced research in computer science and electronics engineering · 2012
Steganography differs from cryptography in the sense that where cryptography focuses on keeping the contents of a message secret, steganography focuses on keeping the existence of a message secret. Steganography and cryptography are both ways to protect information from unwanted parties but neither technology alone is perfect and can be compromised. Once the presence of hidden information is revealed or even suspected, the purpose of steganography is partly defeated. The strength of steganography can thus be amplified by combining it with cryptography. In this paper, we design a system, which uses features of both cryptography as well as steganography. We proposed a method which describes two stages for sending the information securely by using the Steganography based on matching method and to perform key exchange using STS protocol which guarantees authentication. This is done in following steps: 1.Encrypt the message using any one of the popular Public- Key Encryption Algorithms, so that only authorized parties can only be able to read the message. 2. Find and share stego-key between the two communication parties over insecure networks by applying Station To Station(STS) Protocol. 3. Sender uses the secret stego-key to select pixels that it will be used to hide the message obtained in first step. Each selected pixel used to hide 8 bits of information.