Multi Layer Information Hiding -a Blend of Steganography and Visual Cryptography

This study combines the notion of both steganography [1] and visual cryptography [2]. Recently, a number of innovative algorithms have been proposed in the fields of steganography and visual cryptography with the goals of improving security, reliability, and efficiency; because there will be always new kinds of threats in the field of information hiding. Actually Steganography and visual cryptography are two sides of a coin. Visual cryptography has the problem of revealing the existence of the hidden data where as Steganography hides the existence of hidden data. Here this study is to suggest multiple layers of encryption by hiding the hidden data. Hiding the hidden data means, first encrypting the information using visual cryptography and then hide the share/s[3] into images or audio files using steganography. The proposed system can be less of draw backs and can resist towards attacks.