Secure Information Embedding Using a Four-Slice 2-BPS Technique in Image Steganographic

Abstract

The heavy reliance on the internet for secure data transmission require strong and efficient methods to ensure confidentiality. This study suggests an enhanced steganographic method that embedded secret messages into grayscale images using a four slice Two Bit Plane Slicing (2-BPS) technique, random key generation and XOR-based embedding. The proposed method minimize complexity by dividing the cover image into four segments, thereby improving efficiency and security, unlike the traditional bit-plane slicing methods that depend on eight planes. The method was analyzed using the metrics performance like: Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean Squared Error (MSE), entropy, correlation, and histogram analysis. The results show high degree of non-perceptually, low deformation and flexibility against statistical and visual steganalysis. Furthermore, execution time tests confirm the method’s computational efficiency, making it suitable for real-time applications. This approach provides a practical balance between visual quality, data security, and processing speed, with potential extensions to color and high- resolution images.