An Efficient Text Hiding Algorithm Based on ASCII Codes

Steganography is a technique for concealing information within innocuous media to prevent detection. Unlike encryption, which secures content but reveals its presence, steganography obscures content and existence. This paper introduces a novel text-based steganographic technique using ASCII encoding and a dual-function approach for embedding and extraction. The proposed method utilizes a three-key embedding mechanism—initial position, stepping distance, and a constant—to generate a robust key space. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that the technique offers enhanced security, high embedding capacity, and improved performance in terms of time complexity and resource usage compared to existing approaches. These results indicate the method's suitability for secure and efficient covert communication.