Cited by 35Advanced Steganography and Watermarking TechniquesChaos-based Image/Signal EncryptionComputer Science and Engineering

Stegocrypt: A robust tri‐stage spatial steganography algorithm using TLM encryption and DNA coding for securing digital images

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Alexan, Wassim, Mamdouh, Eyad, Aboshousha, Amr, Alsahafi, Youssef S., Gabr, Mohamed, Hosny, Khalid M.·2024·IET Image Processing

Abstract

This research work presents a novel secured spatial steganography algorithm consisting of three stages. In the first stage, a secret message is divided into three parts, each is encrypted using a tan logistic map encryption key with a unique seed value. In the second stage, the encrypted parts are transformed into quick response codes, serving as a layer of channel coding. Subsequently, the quick response codes are decoded back into bit‐streams. To enhance security, a uniquely‐seeded Mersenne Twister key is generated and employed to apply DNA coding onto each bit‐stream. The resulting bit‐streams are then embedded in the least significant bits of the RGB channels of a cover image. Finally, the RGB channels are merged to form a single stego image. A comprehensive set of experimental analyses is conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed secure steganography algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate the algorithm's robustness against various attacks and its ability to achieve high embedding capacity while maintaining imperceptibility. The proposed algorithm offers a promising solution for secure information hiding in the spatial domain, with potential applications in areas such as data transmission, digital forensics, and covert communication.

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  • Chaos-based encryption methods introduce a high degree of non-linearity and complexity, which is crucial for thwarting cryptographic attacks.

    “Utilizing the inherent unpredictability and sensitivity to initial conditions characteristic of chaotic systems, chaos-based encryption methods introduce a high degree of non-linearity and complexity12–14. This is crucial for thwarting a variety of cryptographic attacks, enhancing the security of multimedia files.”

    From A chaos-based augmented image encryption scheme for satellite images using Fredkin logic (2025) · cites this paper as [13]

    The chaotic-logistic-map discussion describes unpredictability, sensitivity to initial conditions, and complex nonlinear dynamics. Section 4.10 reports resistance to brute-force attacks for the paper’s specific algorithm, but does not establish that chaos-based encryption methods generally thwart a variety of cryptographic attacks because of that nonlinearity and complexity. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Alexan, W., Mamdouh, E., Aboshousha, A., Alsahafi, Y. S., Gabr, M., & Hosny, K. M.
Affiliations
  • German International University (EG)
  • German University in Cairo (EG)
  • Cairo University (EG)
  • University of Jeddah (SA)
  • Zagazig University (EG)
Corresponding author
Hosny, Khalid M.
Venue
IET Image Processing
Published
2024-09-29
Volume
18
Issue
13
Pages
4189-4206
ISSN
  • 1751-9659 (ISSN-L)
  • 1751-9667
OpenAlex
W4403004259
Cited by
35
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 3
FWCI
4.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • IET Image Processing (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Advanced Steganography and Watermarking Techniques
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Chaos-based Image/Signal Encryption
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Computer Science and Engineering
Keywords
image steganography, DNA coding, Mersenne Twister, QR codes, channel coding, least significant bit embedding, information hiding, embedding capacity, imperceptibility

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