Introduction to Steganography Techniques
In order to transmit the data from one host to another, the data was supposed to be kept secure so that no one can sniff the data in between. To achieve that, there are several ways available that help us to encrypt the data or modify the data in a manner that is understandable only by the authenticated user. The data can be of any MEME type and based on that the method of modifying it varies. Here we will be learning about a special methodology that is used to protect the data from the malicious user by hiding it.
What is Steganography?
Steganography can be defined as the science of hiding the data like file, image, video or any message to the other file, image, video or message. In Steganography the useless bits are actually replaced by the useful bits in order to hide the required file into any of the files or data mentioned above. It plays a vital role in cybersecurity by allowing the legitimate users or peers to send the data in a way which is highly secured so that it could be protected from the hacker or malicious users who are intended to harm or abuse the system. It can be done using software that is available in the market for free or paid.
Steganography can also be considered as the practice of concealing the crucial data into any of the files so that it could be transmitted securely. The applications like SteganPEG, OpenStego a so on are used to fulfill the purpose of wrapping up one file into another. The applications used for Steganography hides the bits of the required file into another file in a manner so that the original file doesn’t lose its characteristics. It can be considered pretty more secure than encryption or hashing as in these cases the attacker can sniff at least the junks but in the case of Steganography, they won’t be able to detect if anything important has been transmitted. It is usually applied at a place where the data has to be sent secretly.
Techniques of Steganography
There are several kinds of methodologies available to take leverage of steganography. The good things about all the methods or techniques are, it leads to data security or to pass the critical data to anyone in a secure mode. Regardless of the process, eventually one of the normal files like audio, video or image, will end up hiding the critical data behind it as the outcome of steganography. Below are the two ways to implement steganography.
1) Using Application
There is numerous software available in the market like Image Steganography, Steghide, Crypture that is used to implement steganography and all of them are supposed to keep the internal process abstract. The application has a simple interface that lets the user submit the details like which file they want to use for this purpose, what message they want to hide behind it and so on. Once the user provides all the required details, the application performs the required operations and makes the message hidden and ready to be forwarded through the provided file. Based on the operating system that you will be used to perform this there are different applications available in the market. All the application does the same work but the things are all about how quickly it processes the request.
2) Manual Method
One can also hide the data behind the files using the manual process. For that purpose, the terminal in the kali Linux could be best. In the cases where the window’s command prompt fulfills the requirements, it can also implement steganography. There are simple lines of codes that have to be written that include choosing the file that has to hide the data behind it and the message that you need to hide. Once the details are submitted with the proper command, it will lead to hiding the data behind the given file and will make it all set to transfer the message securely. In the behind of the application, it runs the manual codes to hide the data behind the file and as in the manual process the codes are supposed to be submitted directly, it saves huge time which could be utilized to double ensure the security of the data.
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Working with Steganography
In order to work with Steganography, we have several applications available in the market. As we mentioned earlier OpenStego, SteganPEG is some of the applications that are used to implement Steganography. The data that has been required to be wrapped and the data under which it has to be wrapped, both are being used by the application to merge them in a specific way. The working with these applications is very simple so that even someone from a non-technical background can also use it properly.
The application works in a manner like, it asks the user to upload the file that has to be hidden and then it asks to upload the file under which the first has to be hidden, then it processes both of the files with the algorithm in order to hide one under another one. The entire process takes some time as it needs processing of the file in the background but as soon as it is completed, the file will be ready to be shared with the concerned parties. In most cases, the defense or army uses this approach at its best and its all possible due to the algorithm running behind the application to make it happen.
Conclusion
Steganography is one of the most important methodologies used in cybersecurity in order to protect the crucial data before getting transmitted to the public or private network. It is leveraged by military and organizations to transmit critical messages from one host to another. If anyone wants to grow their career in cybersecurity, it is something that they should know how to work in order to get an edge into their existing skillset. One can learn it and can make the door of opportunities open for them in several large organizations as all of them use this technology very frequently throughout their crucial operations.
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This is a guide to Steganography Techniques. Here we discuss the basic concept, working along with two important ways to Implement Steganography Techniques respectively. You may also look at the following articles to learn more –
