CryptoStego:Enhancing RSA with Optimize RC4 for Audio Steganography

In the digital age, computers and information technology have become integral to modern society, raising critical concerns about data security and driving the development of advanced protection methods. This study explores the use of enhanced RSA 3072-bit encryption and an optimized RC4 algorithm for audio steganography, assessing the quality and integrity of steganographic audio files through metrics like Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and Bit Error Rate (BER). Testing five WAV audio files of different sizes and durations revealed PSNR values between 87.21 dB and 91.26 dB, indicating minimal perceptible distortion, while SNR values ranged from 70.43 dB to 99.74 dB, with the highest clarity in the Bamboo_Flute file. The BER remained consistently low at 0.001, demonstrating the method's ability to preserve data integrity during steganography. These results confirm that the proposed technique enhances security and audio quality with minimal impact on perception, suggesting its potential for secure communication, watermarking, and digital rights management, with further testing recommended for broader application.