Segmentation and block based image steganography using optimal pixel adjustment process and identical approach

Steganography plays a very important role in secret communication. Many possible techniques are used to embed confidential information in digital images, the least significant bit (LSB) technique has very widely used. However, maintaining the imperceptibility is still a major concern. In the proposed method, a hybrid approach of data hiding is used, in which a hybrid method of data hiding using optimal pixel adjustment process (OPAP) and identical matching has been used. Also, to make the algorithm more imperceptible data is divided into segments and image into blocks and a data segment is embedded into an image block where it effects the least image quality. The experimental results prove that the quality of stego image using the proposed algorithm has been improved over existing conventional methods of data hiding. For the verification of the results, peak signal-to-noise (PSNR) and mean square error (MSE) are calculated. The PSNR value for the proposed method yields approximately of 14 dB enhancement.