Development of LSB Based Steganography Method for Video and Image hiding

In the rapidly evolving digital media landscape, ensuring the security and privacy of multimedia data has become paramount. This research delves into the field of steganography, specifically focusing on developing a robust method to hide information in images and videos. The proposed method combines the use of least significant bit (LSB) based steganography to hide images and RC4 algorithm to enhance security. The proposed method first works by encrypting secret data using RC4 algorithm. The encrypted data is then embedded into the cover art or video using a modified LSB embedding technique. This technique carefully selects pixels into which to embed secret data and uses a new, more powerful bit-embedding algorithm for compression and other image processing operations. The LSB technique involves embedding data into the bits with the least significant pixel value, allowing for imperceptible changes in image content. This method provides a balance between concealment and maintaining the integrity of the host media. At the same time, the RC4 algorithm is used to encrypt hidden data, adding an additional layer of security to prevent unauthorized access. Integrating these techniques into a unified system provides a flexible solution for covert communication and secure data transmission. The study explores the complexity of steganography based on LSB and the RC4 algorithm, testing their effectiveness in hiding and protecting sensitive information in media files. Experimental validation includes comprehensive testing on images and videos to evaluate the system's stealth, robustness, and resilience against various attacks. The results aim to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, providing insight into its potential applications in secure communications, digital forensics, and information protection. This research contributes to the growing field of steganography by presenting a practical and innovative approach to multimedia data hiding, addressing modern challenges in data security and privacy. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on multiple video and image datasets. The results show that the proposed method outperforms the traditional LSB integration method in terms of security, capacity and durability.