Information hiding using LSB replacement technique and adaptive image fusion

Abstract

Steganography is a branch of information hiding which allows people to communicate in a secure way. To increase confidentiality in sending information, our paper combines two techniques: 1) the LSB replacement technique for hiding text messages in an image; 2) an iterative image fusion algorithm. The fusion algorithm aims at choosing an optimal carrier image to be fused with an input image containing the hidden text. The results show an increase in the PSNR value for the final image. Also, a comparative analysis is done in three ways: 1) PSNR values before and after fusion; 2) effects of using an optimum carrier versus a random carrier image; 3) effects of varying lengths of input text messages and the corresponding changes in PSNR values. From the three cases, we are able to prove that the PSNR value of the final image is increased after fusion with an optimal carrier image.