An LSB Data Hiding Technique Using Natural Numbers

In this paper, a novel data hiding technique is proposed, as an improvement over the Fibonacci LSB data-hiding technique proposed by Battisti et al. (1) based on decomposition of a number (pixel-value) in sum of natural numbers. This particular representation again generates a different set of (virtual) bit-planes altogether, suitable for embedding purposes. We get more bitplanes than that we get using Prime technique (2). These bitplanes not only allow one to embed secret message in higher bit- planes but also do it without much distortion, with a much better stego-image quality, and in a reliable and secured manner, guaranteeing efficient retrieval of secret message. A comparative performance study between the classical Least Significant Bit (LSB) method, the Fibonacci LSB data-hiding technique and the proposed schemes indicate that image quality of the stego-image hidden by the technique using the natural decomposition method improves drastically against that using Prime and Fibonacci decomposition technique. Experimental results also illustrate that, the stego-image is visually indistinguishable from the original cover-image. Also we show the optimality of our technique.