Enhancing Security for Data Hiding in Radiographic Images using Burrows Wheeler Transform

Objectives: This paper proposes a new method to enhance security for data hiding in radiographic images through distortion of original data. Method: The process involves applying a Burrows-Wheeler Transform (BWT) to the original data, which groups and stores similar patterns in data, causing distortion. This distorted data is then further encoded in a safe format before hiding it in the cover image. The decoding process decoding from the safe format and applying Inverse Burrows-Wheeler Transform (IBWT) to retrieve the original data from the stego image. Findings: Thus, a 2-level security scheme is implemented. Cryptanalysis of the hidden data becomes difficult since the original data is distorted, thus enhancing the security of the hidden data. Nevertheless, the stego image obtained from this method is less deviated from the original cover image. This is shown from the satisfactory PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio) and MSE (Mean Square Error) obtained. Application/Improvements: This proposed method can be used wherever steganography or data hiding has its applications. This method can be used in commercial communication, military communication etc.