About This Steganography Tool
This tool allows you to hide secret messages within image files using steganography techniques. The process is completely client-side, meaning your data never leaves your browser and remains private.
How Steganography Works
Steganography hides information by subtly altering the pixels of an image in ways that are imperceptible to the human eye. This tool uses the LSB (Least Significant Bit) method which modifies the least important bits of pixel color values to store your message.
Note: This demonstration simulates the steganography process. In a production environment, you would implement actual LSB steganography algorithms.
Step-by-Step Guide
To Hide a Message in an Image:
- Select the "Hide Text" tab
- Choose a cover image (PNG or JPEG)
- Enter your secret message in the text area
- (Optional) Set an encryption password for extra security
- (Optional) Adjust advanced settings if needed
- Click "Hide Message in Image"
- Download the image containing your hidden message
To Extract a Hidden Message:
- Select the "Extract Text" tab
- Upload the image containing the hidden message
- Enter the password if one was used during encoding
- Click "Extract Hidden Message"
- View your secret message in the results area
Advanced Features Explained
- Encryption: Adds AES-256 encryption to your message before hiding it
- Compression: Reduces message size to allow hiding more text
- Random Pixel Distribution: Scatters message bits randomly for better security
- Decoy Noise: Adds random noise to make detection harder
- Bits Per Pixel: Controls how many bits are modified per pixel (more bits = more capacity but more visible artifacts)
Security Considerations:
- Always use strong passwords for encrypted messages
- Don't use the same image multiple times with different messages
- For maximum security, use PNG images and 1-bit modification
- Remember that sophisticated analysis can sometimes detect steganography
Technical Information
This tool demonstrates client-side steganography principles. In a real implementation:
- The LSB method would modify the least significant bits of pixel color channels
- A header would be embedded to store message length and encryption metadata
- Encryption would use Web Crypto API for AES-256 encryption
- Compression would use the LZ-String library for efficient storage
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much text can I hide in an image?
A: Typically 10-15% of the image file size. A 1MB image can hide about 100-150KB of text.
Q: Does this affect image quality?
A: With default settings (1-bit), changes are imperceptible. Higher bit settings may cause slight artifacts.
Q: Can I use this on any image?
A: PNG works best. JPEG compression can sometimes corrupt hidden data.
Q: Is this detectable?
A: To casual inspection, no. Advanced steganalysis tools might detect it.