Ant Colony Optimization To Enhance Image Steganography

Eman Talib Zghaer and Assist. Prof. Dr Soukaena H.Hashem

Abstract Steganography is one of the most important mechanisms to protect the secret information over communication channels. Traditional image steganography approaches trend to hide secret message bits into image from first pixel and continue with other pixels sequentially until the last bit of the secret message. Modern steganography trends to hide the data randomly in image using differnet intelligent algorithms to make steganalysis fail. This paper introduces a proposed image steganography system based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) aiming to enhance spatial image steganography, by hiding data randomly in the cover and using the same cover many times. The proposal begins with preparing the image to be suitable for ACO algorithms by dividing the image into blocks (n*n) pixels to be as graph with nodes (pixels) and edges (relation between pixels). Then ACO algorithm is applied on each block; to find the best path among pixels in the block and depend the optimal pixel to be used in embed the secret message bits, and continue to all blocks sequentially until the last bit of secret meassge. To use the same cover in a second timing proposal suggests hiding bits of secret message in the second optimal pixel in the block. Keywords: Steganography, Ant Colony System, Min-Max Ant System and Secret Message.

Title:	Ant Colony Optimization To Enhance Image Steganography
Author Name:	Eman Talib Zghaer and Assist. Prof. Dr Soukaena H.Hashem
Abstract:	Abstract Steganography is one of the most important mechanisms to protect the secret information over communication channels. Traditional image steganography approaches trend to hide secret message bits into image from first pixel and continue with other pixels sequentially until the last bit of the secret message. Modern steganography trends to hide the data randomly in image using differnet intelligent algorithms to make steganalysis fail. This paper introduces a proposed image steganography system based on Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) aiming to enhance spatial image steganography, by hiding data randomly in the cover and using the same cover many times. The proposal begins with preparing the image to be suitable for ACO algorithms by dividing the image into blocks (n*n) pixels to be as graph with nodes (pixels) and edges (relation between pixels). Then ACO algorithm is applied on each block; to find the best path among pixels in the block and depend the optimal pixel to be used in embed the secret message bits, and continue to all blocks sequentially until the last bit of secret meassge. To use the same cover in a second timing proposal suggests hiding bits of secret message in the second optimal pixel in the block. Keywords: Steganography, Ant Colony System, Min-Max Ant System and Secret Message.
Cite this article:	Eman Talib Zghaer and Assist. Prof. Dr Soukaena H.Hashem , " Ant Colony Optimization To Enhance Image Steganography " , International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS), Volume 6, Issue 1, January - February 2017 , pp. 098-107 , ISSN 2278-6856.
Full Text [PDF] Home