Research on Key Technologies of Spatial Domain Image Steganography and Analysis of Typical Applications

In the digital age, secure storage and communication of information are crucial aspects of everyday life, drawing significant global interest. Steganography serves as a pivotal method for concealing private information within various media forms—such as images, videos, and text—enabling secure information transmission. This paper delineates the distinctions between information hiding and encryption and delves into image steganography. The focus here is on spatial-based image steganography techniques, which are broadly categorized into traditional and deep learning-based methods. Traditional methods rely on modifications to the pixel values of the host image, often resulting in minor but detectable changes if not carefully managed. On the other hand, deep learning-based methods leverage neural networks to learn how to encode data in an image in a way that is much harder to detect. A comprehensive performance analysis of these techniques is provided, complete with comparative tables to aid in clarity and reference. Additionally, this paper aims to guide researchers by charting current trends in the field and suggesting future research directions. By exploring these advanced techniques, the paper contributes to the broader discourse on enhancing the security and efficacy of steganographic practices.