A Data Hiding Technique Combining Steganography and Cryptography for Secured Communication

Data security plays a significant role in the present era. A vast amount of data is transmitted over the internet, including susceptible information such as financial transactions, passwords, and other confidential data. Traditional data security systems are becoming vulnerable due to advancements in technology. The combination of steganography and cryptography is an effective solution to overcome this. This merged approach safeguards data from interception and conceals hidden information, thwarting potential attackers. This research proposes a secured method for data concealment using cryptography and steganography. The private information is first encrypted into ciphertext using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption algorithm and then hidden into a text. The suggested approach performs better in embedding capability, invisibility, resilience, and security, establishing it as a standard data-hiding method. By adding an extra layer of security, it becomes much harder for cyber attackers to invade privacy and exploit vulnerabilities. This integrated approach marks a promising advancement in modern data security.