Enhancing data security using hybrid techniques

Steganography and Cryptography are two vital techniques to secure communication in the digital age. Steganography conceals the very existence of information, while Cryptography encrypts the content, making it unreadable without the correct key. By combining these two methods, a highly secure system for transmitting sensitive data can be developed. This paper provides a detailed survey of the most prominent steganographic and cryptographic techniques, focusing on reversible data-hiding methods, image-based steganography, and the challenges these techniques face in maintaining security and robustness. We explore various applications, including cloud security and digital forensics, while addressing future research directions to enhance secure communication.