Steganography on JPEG Images: Issues and Challenges

This paper examines the progression and challenges of JPEG steganography, a technique that hides secret messages within seemingly innocuous JPEG images. The paper traces the development of JPEG steganography through three phases: early DCT domain adaptations, the introduction of syndrome trellis codes and distortion framework, and the shift towards robust steganography techniques. While STC-based methods initially enhanced security against steganalysis, they remain vulnerable to modifications during transmission, such as social media recompression, which has driven the need for more resilient approaches. This paper reviews notable advancements in robust steganography, including dither modulation and sign-based techniques, and concludes with an exploration of open research challenges, emphasizing the need for effective recompression models and solutions that balance capacity, security, and robustness.