Steganography and Related Fields

The general idea of hiding some information in digital content has a wider class of applications that go beyond steganography. The techniques involved in such applicationsare collectively referred to as information hiding.

History of Steganography

Herodotus

The first recorded uses of steganography can be traced back to 440 BC when Herodotus mentions two examples of steganography in The Histories of Herodotus.[2] Demaratus sent a warning about a forthcoming attack to Greece by writing it directly on the wooden backing of a wax tablet before applying its beeswax surface.Wax tablets were in common use then as reusable writing surfaces, sometimes used for shorthand.

Another ancient example is that of Histiaeus, who shaved the head of his most trusted slave and tattooed a message on it. After his hair had grown the message was hidden. The purpose was to instigate a revolt against the Persians.

What is Steganography?

Abstract: Steganography is the art and science of writing hidden messages in such a way that no one, apart from the sender and intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message, a form of security through obscurity.[1]

Steganographic technologies are a very important part of the future of Internet security and privacy on open systems such as the Internet. Steganography is a method of hiding a secret message inside of other data. Steganography, derived from Greek, literally means “covered writing.” It includes a vast array of secret communications methods that conceal the message’s very existence. It refers to the science of invisible communication. Unlike cryptography, where the goal is to secure communications from an eaves-dropper, Steganographic techniques strive to hide the very presence of the message itself from an observer. Steganography in the modern day sense of the word usually refers to information or a file that has been concealed inside a digital Picture, Video or Audio file.