Quantum Audio Steganography for Secure IoT Communication

With the rise of quantum computing and the limitations of traditional encryption methods, ensuring secure data transmission in IoT frameworks has become increasingly critical. This work presents a quantum-enhanced hybrid communication system that integrates adaptive audio techniques with quantum image processing. The proposed system operates in three main stages: first, text data is converted into binary format and encoded into quantum circuits using Qiskit; second, the quantum-encoded data is embedded into audio signals using an adaptive Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique; finally, the stego-audio’s robustness is evaluated under simulated IoT network conditions. Unlike conventional approaches, this method offers dual-layer security by combining dynamic audio embedding with quantum-based image representation, making it resistant to both quantum attacks and signal degradation. Experimental results demonstrate strong performance, with a Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) ranging from 45 to 50 dB, a Bit Error Rate (BER) below 2%, and entropy values exceeding 7.5. These outcomes indicate the system’s effectiveness for secure, quantum-resilient communication in IoT environments with bandwidth and security constraints.