Secure data transfer in IoT environment: Adopting both cryptography and steganography techniques

Owing to the unprecedented growth in computing power, electronics miniaturization and mobile and wireless network interconnections the internet has metamorphosed into Internet of Things (IoT) which refers to next stage of the information revolution whose context involves billions of individuals and devices interconnected to facilitate exchange of huge volume of data and information from diverse locations, demanding the consequent necessity for smart data aggregation followed by an increased obligation to index, hoard and process data with higher efficiency and effectiveness. But along with its myriad offered benefits and applications, emerges a novel complexity aspect in terms of many inherent hassles primarily security concerns during data transfer phases in IoT covering mostly data confidentiality and integrity features. Thus to enhance safe data transfer in smart IoT environment, a security scheme is proposed in this paper which addresses both the aforesaid issues, employing an integrated approach of lightweight cryptography and steganography (Simple LSB Substitution) technique during data transfer between IoT device and Home Server and adoption of combined approach of cryptography and steganography (Proposed MSB-LSB Substitution) technique during data transfer phases between Home Server and Cloud Servers.