Using Orthogonal Signals to Hide Information in Images

Abstract

Spread-Spectrum Steganography (SSS) technology is used to hide information messages in image containers. For this purpose, propagating discrete signals are used, in specially formed pseudo-random sequences (PRS) with special correlation properties. This technology is similar to the direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) used in telecommunications systems to reduce the effects of random noise in information channels. The properties of expansion PRS directly affect the quality of communication in DSSS and, accordingly, the efficiency of SSS. This article investigates various methods of PRS formation and conducts experiments to assess the intensity of bit errors and the quality of the image container. We show that it is most appropriate to use orthogonal discrete Walsh-Hadamard signals that provide the best performance.