Suggested method for hiding secret data in cover image depending on the Connected Component Labeling algorithm

Abstract

The encryption and concealment of important areas to maintain the confidentiality of data , Where the proposed method is working on the coordination between the confidential data and the cover image and that is through combining between the encryption process and the concealment process (Creating the appropriate environment to conceal confidential data encoded in a special way at specific locations According to certain conditions ) , Where the proposed method is divided into three phases , First stage : converting confidential data to a binary system , And then dividing them to two matrices , 1's matrix that contains 1's with 0 between each frequent two groups from 1's , and 0's matrix that contains 0's with 1 between each frequent two groups from 0's . Second stage: converting the cover image to labeled image and thus determining the locations of pixels that its value 1 and the locations of pixels that its value 0 .Third stage : hiding 1's matrix and 0's matrix in the specific locations , And thus obtaining embedded image . Then sending the embedded image, And four keys (the start storage location, and length for 1's matrix. the start storage location, and length for 0's matrix) to the recipient to compare it with original image (unembedded image) for extracting the secret data . This method is characterized by flexibility where can be applied on image types and data of different, and the durability because the concealment locations be random semi. To illustrate the proposed method has been tested on the cover image of type the gray sacle , and textual data , also using the metrics (PSNR) and (MSE) To test the efficiency of the proposed method And that by using the language of MATLAB .