High capacity secret embedding strategy for QR codes based on EMD
Chenrui Ruan, Pengcheng Huang · 2023
QR codes have become the most prevalent means of information transmission in today's world, finding widespread usage across various domains. Nonetheless, being a publicly available technology, QR codes entail inherent risks of exposing sensitive information during the transmission process. To address this vulnerability, this paper introduces a QR code secret embedding scheme based on an enhanced EMD method, aiming to safeguard sensitive information within QR codes. In this scheme, secret messages are transformed into binary data streams, and an improved EMD strategy is employed to precisely adjust the pixel values of the cover QR code, facilitating the embedding of confidential data. Despite the modifications, the resulting marked QR code remains legible and meaningful, thereby diminishing the curiosity of potential attackers. With the aid of a customized scanner, the secret information can be swiftly extracted. Compared to existing approaches, this scheme boasts a higher capacity for secret payload and superior embedding efficiency.