A CRYPTOSTEGANOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR PROTECTING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION USING COMBINATORIAL METHODS

Abstract

The paper presents a two-level information protection method that combines cryptographic and steganographic approaches to provide an enhanced level of confidentiality and integrity protection for information transmitted over open communication channels. Encryption transforms information into an unintelligible form and, when transmitted openly, may raise suspicions about the nature of its origin; moreover, cryptography is prohibited in a number of countries. Camouflaging encrypted data within a media container does not raise suspicion during its open transmission or storage. The simultaneous use of cryptographic and steganographic methods within a single software solution requires consistency between them; therefore, an approach is proposed in which the same method, namely the transposition (permutation) method, is used both for encryption and for embedding information into a container. Particular attention is paid to hiding confidential data in digital images, although the generality of the approach is also preserved for other types of media containers. High resistance to statistical attacks is achieved because the elements are not modified but rearranged. The developed method provides high reliability in recovering confidential information and is characterized by simplicity of algorithmic implementation.