Image steganography with using QR code and cryptography

Abstract

This paper is focused on proposal of image steganographic method that is able to embedding of encoded secret message using Quick Response Code (QR) code into image data. Discrete Wavelet Transformation (DWT) domain is used for the embedding of QR code, while embedding process is additionally protected by Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher algorithm. In addition, typical characteristics of QR code was broken using the encryption, therefore it makes the method more secure. The aim of this paper is design of image steganographic method with high secure level and high non-perceptibility level. The relation between security and capacity of the method was improved by special compression of QR code before the embedding process. Efficiency of the proposed method was measured by Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) and achieved results were compared with other steganographic tools.