🔐 Steganography Tool

A high-performance, modern steganography application that allows you to securely embed and extract hidden messages in images, audio files, and text using advanced LSB (Least Significant Bit) techniques.

✨ Features

• 🖼️ Image Steganography - Hide and extract messages from PNG/JPG/JPEG images
• 🎵 Audio Steganography - Hide and extract messages from WAV audio files
• 📝 Text Steganography - Hide messages in text using zero-width Unicode characters
• ⚡ Lightning Fast - Optimized with NumPy vectorized operations (1000x faster)
• 🎨 Modern UI - Beautiful gradient design with smooth animations
• 📱 Responsive - Works seamlessly on desktop and mobile devices
• 🔒 Secure - Files processed locally, no data retention

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8+ - Download Python
• Node.js 16+ - Download Node.js
• npm or yarn - Comes with Node.js

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/steganography.git
   cd steganography

2. Set up the Backend (Flask API)

   cd backend
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   python app.py

   The Flask API will start on http://localhost:5000

3. Set up the Frontend (React)

   Open a new terminal window:

   cd frontend
   npm install
   npm run dev

   The React app will start on http://localhost:3000

4. Open your browser

   Navigate to http://localhost:3000 and start hiding messages! 🎉

📖 Usage Guide

Image Steganography

Embedding a Message:

1. Click on the "Image" tab
2. Select "Embed Message" mode
3. Upload an image file (PNG, JPG, JPEG)
4. Type your secret message in the text area
5. Click "🔒 Embed Message"
6. Download the encoded image

Extracting a Message:

1. Click on the "Image" tab
2. Select "Extract Message" mode
3. Upload the previously encoded image
4. Click "🔓 Extract Message"
5. Your hidden message will be revealed!

Audio Steganography

Embedding a Message:

1. Click on the "Audio" tab
2. Select "Embed Message" mode
3. Upload a WAV audio file
4. Type your secret message
5. Click "🔒 Embed Message"
6. Download the encoded audio file

Extracting a Message:

1. Click on the "Audio" tab
2. Select "Extract Message" mode
3. Upload the encoded audio file
4. Click "🔓 Extract Message"
5. View your hidden message

Text Steganography

Embedding a Message:

1. Click on the "Text" tab
2. Select "Embed Message" mode
3. Enter cover text (optional - can be empty)
4. Enter your secret message
5. Click "🔒 Embed Message"
6. Copy the encoded text (looks identical to original!)

Extracting a Message:

1. Click on the "Text" tab
2. Select "Extract Message" mode
3. Paste the encoded text
4. Click "🔓 Extract Message"
5. Your hidden message appears!

🏗️ Project Structure

steganography/
├── backend/
│   ├── app.py                 # Flask API server with optimized algorithms
│   ├── requirements.txt       # Python dependencies
│   ├── uploads/              # Temporary upload folder (auto-created)
│   └── outputs/              # Temporary output folder (auto-created)
├── frontend/
│   ├── src/
│   │   ├── components/
│   │   │   ├── ImageSteganography.jsx
│   │   │   ├── AudioSteganography.jsx
│   │   │   └── TextSteganography.jsx
│   │   ├── App.jsx           # Main application component
│   │   ├── App.css           # Styling with gradients
│   │   └── main.jsx          # React entry point
│   ├── index.html            # HTML template
│   ├── package.json          # Node dependencies
│   └── vite.config.js        # Vite configuration
├── Tool-steganography/       # Original standalone script
│   └── script.py
├── README.md                 # This file
├── QUICKSTART.md            # Quick start guide
└── README_SETUP.md          # Detailed setup guide

🔧 API Endpoints

Health Check

• GET /api/health - Check if the API is running

Image Steganography

• POST /api/image/embed - Embed a message in an image

  • Form Data: file (image), message (text)
  • Returns: Base64 encoded image

• POST /api/image/extract - Extract a message from an image

  • Form Data: file (image)
  • Returns: Hidden message

Audio Steganography

• POST /api/audio/embed - Embed a message in audio

  • Form Data: file (WAV audio), message (text)
  • Returns: Base64 encoded audio

• POST /api/audio/extract - Extract a message from audio

  • Form Data: file (WAV audio)
  • Returns: Hidden message

Text Steganography

• POST /api/text/embed - Embed a message in text

  • JSON: coverText, secretMessage
  • Returns: Encoded text with zero-width characters

• POST /api/text/extract - Extract a message from text

  • JSON: encodedText
  • Returns: Hidden message

🛠️ Technologies Used

Backend

• Flask 3.0.0 - Lightweight web framework
• Flask-CORS 4.0.0 - Handle cross-origin requests
• Pillow 10.1.0 - Advanced image processing
• NumPy 1.26.2 - High-performance numerical operations
• SciPy 1.11.4 - Audio file processing
• Werkzeug 3.0.1 - WSGI utilities

Frontend

• React 18.2 - Modern UI library
• Vite 5.0 - Lightning-fast build tool
• Axios 1.6.2 - Promise-based HTTP client
• CSS3 - Modern styling with gradients and animations

⚡ Performance Optimizations

This tool has been heavily optimized for speed:

• Vectorized Operations: Using NumPy array operations instead of Python loops
• Early Termination: Stops processing as soon as the message is found
• Efficient Bit Manipulation: Using np.unpackbits() and np.packbits()
• Smart Chunking: Only processes necessary data (max 10,000 characters)
• Result: ~1000x faster than naive implementations!

Performance Benchmarks

• Image Extraction: < 50ms (previously 10+ seconds)
• Audio Extraction: < 100ms (previously 1+ minutes)
• Embedding: < 200ms for typical files

🔒 How It Works

Image & Audio Steganography (LSB Technique)

1. Embedding: Converts the message to binary and replaces the least significant bit (LSB) of each pixel/sample
2. Extraction: Reads the LSB of each pixel/sample until the null terminator is found
3. Advantage: Changes are imperceptible to human eyes/ears

Text Steganography (Zero-Width Characters)

1. Embedding: Converts message to binary and encodes using zero-width Unicode characters (\u200B, \u200C)
2. Extraction: Detects and decodes zero-width characters back to the original message
3. Advantage: Completely invisible in normal text display

🚨 Troubleshooting

Backend Issues

Problem: ModuleNotFoundError when starting the backend

# Solution: Install dependencies
cd backend
pip install -r requirements.txt

Problem: Port 5000 already in use

# Solution: Change port in backend/app.py (line 287)
app.run(debug=True, port=5001)  # Use a different port

Frontend Issues

Problem: npm install fails

# Solution: Clear npm cache and retry
npm cache clean --force
npm install

Problem: Port 3000 already in use

# Solution: Vite will automatically suggest another port (5173)
# Or set a specific port in vite.config.js

CORS Errors

• Ensure the backend is running before starting the frontend
• Flask-CORS is configured to allow all origins by default
• Check that the backend URL in frontend components matches your backend server

📝 Notes & Best Practices

• File Size: Ensure images/audio files are large enough to hold your message

  • Rule of thumb: 1 character requires 8 pixels/samples
  • Example: A 100-character message needs at least 800 pixels

• Image Format: PNG is recommended over JPG for image steganography

  • JPG compression can corrupt embedded data
  • PNG is lossless and preserves hidden messages

• Audio Format: Only WAV files are supported for audio steganography

  • MP3/AAC compression will destroy hidden data

• Security: This tool is for educational purposes

  • LSB steganography is detectable with proper analysis
  • Not recommended for highly sensitive data
  • Consider encryption before embedding for better security

🔮 Future Enhancements

• Add encryption option (AES-256) before embedding
• Support for MP4 video steganography
• Password protection for messages
• Batch processing for multiple files
• Advanced steganalysis detection
• File compression before embedding
• Docker containerization
• Cloud deployment guide

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

📄 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Inspired by classical steganography techniques
• Built with modern web technologies
• Optimized for performance and user experience

📧 Contact

For questions or support, please open an issue on GitHub.

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⭐ If you find this project useful, please consider giving it a star!

Made with ❤️ by rooter a.k.a Harsh Sandilya.