IMAGE STEGANALYSIS AND SECURITYENHANCEMENT USING MIDPOINTTRANSFORMATION

Image steganalysis has developed into a severe challenge for digital communicationbecause it allows users to disguise harmful secret data inside images almost undetectably. Thisresearch presents a midpoint transformation technique which both discovers secret messageswhile preventing new message embedment. The algorithm analyzes each image pixel whilescanning for deviations which might practice data concealing. The second part of our processstrengthens the image to protect it from unauthorized data embedding in upcoming versions.Theunique characteristic of our method entails changing detection thresholds automatically throughanalyzing the relationships existing between adjacent image pixels. The technique detects minutechanges that usually indicate steganographic activity. Our security mechanism works during thesecond step by modifying the image to create hidden data resistance without damaging the qualityof the image output.During experimental trials our method showed a detection success rate of94.3% with less than 2.1% occurrence of false alerts. The image quality remained highthroughout the implementation with PSNR values exceeding 42dB while blocking almost 99percent of efforts to hide data.A specific feature of this detection approach enables it to identifysophisticated steganographic methods that other traditional tools cannot recognize. The researchdelivers an operational detection and prevention solution for secret information within imageswhile maintaining original image quality.