Digital logic based encoding strategies for steganography on voice-over-IP

ABSTRACT

This paper presents three encoding strategies based on digital logic for steganography on Voice over IP (VoIP), which aim to enhance the embedding transparency. Differing from previous approaches, our strategies reduce the embedding distortion by improving the similarity between the cover and the covert message using digital logical transformations, instead of reducing the amount of the substitution bits. Therefore, by contrast, our strategies will improve the embedding transparency without sacrificing the embedding capacity. Of these three strategies, the first one adopts logical operations, the second one employs circular shifting operations, and the third one combines the operations of the first two. All of them are evaluated through comparing their prototype implementations with some existing methods in a prototypical covert communication system based on VoIP (called StegVoIP). The experimental results show that the proposed strategies can effectively enhance the embedding transparency while maintaining the maximum embedding capacity.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.0 General
          Subjects: Security and protection (e.g., firewalls)

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.0 General
          Subjects: Data communications

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.5 Security and Protection (D.4.6, K.4.2)
          Subjects: Unauthorized access (e.g., hacking, phreaking); Insurance**; Invasive software (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses)

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Experimentation, Security

Keywords:
VoIP, digital logic, steganography, transparency