Randomised Data Concealment with Reversibility Improved Data Hiding In Encrypted Images

Steganography is used to hide data like text, image audio from unauthorized user in different manner. Data hiding method for images suffer from performance issues like low embedding capabilities, distortion or do not recover the original image completely. A novel reversible data hiding method is proposed. The pixel to which data is embedded is estimated in a random manner, these pixels are shifted and data along with the estimation errors are embedded in the image and these pixels are encrypted using a standard encryption technique. The rest of the image is then encrypted using a standard encryption algorithm. The image and data can be encrypted before data concealment for added protection. The embedded data can be extracted before or after the image is decrypted. This is possible by implementing a data hiding key. Thus, with the data hiding key, only the embedded data can be extracted revealing no information about the carrier image. The image is decrypted and can be recovered using the location maps created during the histogram shifting process. The various encryption levels in this method ensure a secure system. The proposed model exhibits high PSNR values and offers complete recovery of the hidden data and image.