A python steganography module to store messages or files protected with AES-256 encryption inside an image.
Steganography is the art of concealing information within different types of media objects such as images or audio files, in such a way that no one, apart from the sender and intended recipient, suspects the existence of the message. By default steganography is a type of security through obscurity.
Additionally this module also enhance the security of the steganography through data encryption. The data concealed is encrypted using AES 256 encryption, a popular algorithm used in symmetric key cryptography.
(Most Linux systems comes with python 3 installed by default).
$ sudo apt-get install python3-pip
To install Python3 I recommend use Homebrew package manager
The script will explain what changes it will make and prompt you before the installation begins.
$ ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"
Edit your ~/.profile to include (if it is not already there)
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:$PATH
To install Python 3:
$ brew install python3
To install the package just run
$ pip3 install cryptosteganography
Store a message string inside an image
from cryptosteganography import CryptoSteganography
crypto_steganography = CryptoSteganography('My secret password key')
# Save the encrypted file inside the image
crypto_steganography.hide('input_image_name.jpg', 'output_image_file.png', 'My secret message')
secret = crypto_steganography.retrieve('output_image_file.png')
print(secret)
# My secret message
Store a binary file inside an image
Note: This only works if the concealed file size is smaller than the input image
from cryptosteganography import CryptoSteganography
message = None
with open('sample.mp3', "rb") as f:
message = f.read()
crypto_steganography = CryptoSteganography('My secret password key')
# Save the encrypted file inside the image
crypto_steganography.hide('input_image_name.jpg', 'output_image_file.png', message)
# Retrieve the file ( the previous crypto_steganography instance could be used but I instantiate a brand new object
# with the same password key just to demonstrate that can it can be used to decrypt)
crypto_steganography = CryptoSteganography('My secret password key')
decrypted_bin = crypto_steganography.retrieve('output_image_file.png')
# Save the data to a new file
with open('decrypted_sample.mp3', 'wb') as f:
f.write(secret_bin)
Check help at command line prompt to learn how to use it.
$ cryptosteganography -h
usage: cryptosteganography [-h] {save,retrieve} ...
A python steganography script that save/retrieve a text/file (AES 256
encrypted) inside an image.
positional arguments:
{save,retrieve} sub-command help
save save help
retrieve retrieve help
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
Save sub command help
$ cryptosteganography save -h
usage: cryptosteganography save [-h] -i INPUT_IMAGE_FILE
(-m MESSAGE | -f MESSAGE_FILE) -o
OUTPUT_IMAGE_FILE
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-i INPUT_IMAGE_FILE, --input INPUT_IMAGE_FILE
Input image file.
-m MESSAGE, --message MESSAGE
Your secret message to hide (non binary).
-f MESSAGE_FILE, --file MESSAGE_FILE
Your secret to hide (Text or any binary file).
-o OUTPUT_IMAGE_FILE, --output OUTPUT_IMAGE_FILE
Output image containing the secret.
Retrieve sub command help
$ cryptosteganography retrieve -h
usage: cryptosteganography retrieve [-h] -i INPUT_IMAGE_FILE [-o RETRIEVED_FILE]
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
-i INPUT_IMAGE_FILE, --input INPUT_IMAGE_FILE
Input image file.
-o RETRIEVED_FILE, --output RETRIEVED_FILE
Output for the binary secret file (Text or any binary
file).
Save message example
$ cryptosteganography save -i 4824157.png -m "My secret message..." -o output.png
Enter the key password:
Confirm the key password:
Output image output.png saved with success
Retrieve message example
$ cryptosteganography retrieve -i output.png
Enter the key password:
My secret message...
Save file example
$ cryptosteganography save -i input_image_name.jpg -f duck_logo.pem -o output_file.png
Enter the key password:
Confirm the key password:
Output image output_file.png saved with success
Retrieve file example
$ cryptosteganography retrieve -i output.png -o decrypted_file
Enter the key password:
decrypted_file saved with success
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details
- Only works with python 3
- It does not work if the conceived file is greater than original input file
- I did not tested with all conceived file types. Feel free to report any bug you find