Security enhancement in audio steganography using LSB method and encryption algorithm

Steganography or information hiding in a medium is concerned with embedding information in an audio, image, or video file in an imperceptible manner. Human auditory and visual imperfections, which lead to psychoacoustic masking effects in hearing and vision, are exploited for modifying a host, or cover, audio or image in accordance with a given piece of covert information. Since the modification is carried out in the masked regions of perceptibility, the information-embedded medium, or the “stego” signal, appears to be the same as the original host signal.

Steganography is the art and science of writing hidden messages in such a way that no one, apart from the sender and intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message or Steganography is to hide messages inside other harmless messages in a way that does not allow any enemy to even detect that there is a second message present.

In a digital world, Steganography and Cryptography are both intended to protect information from unwanted parties. Both Steganography and Cryptography are excellent means by which to accomplish this but neither technology alone is perfect and both can be broken. It is for this reason that most experts would suggest using both to add multiple layers of security.

Steganography can be used in a large amount of data formats in the digital world of today. The most popular data formats used are.bmp,.doc,.gif,.jpeg,.mp3,.txt and.wav.

LSB is a well-known method for Steganography. Using only steganography for security of message might be harmful in certain cases. Some of the other technologies also be embedded with steganography for better security of messages. A lots of researcher suggest encryption with steganography.