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 enhances 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.
Python 3+ pip3 (Most Linux systems come with Python 3 installed by default).
$ sudo apt-get install python3-pipTo install Python3, I recommend using the Homebrew package manager. The script will explain what changes it will make and prompt you before the installation begins.
$ ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"Edit your ~/.profile to include (if it is not already there):
export PATH=/usr/local/bin:/usr/local/sbin:$PATHTo install Python 3:
$ brew install python3To install the package, just run:
$ pip3 install cryptosteganographyStore 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 messageStore 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 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 the 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 exitSave 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: Output image output.png saved with successRetrieve 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: Output image output_file.png saved with successRetrieve file example
$ cryptosteganography retrieve -i output.png -o decrypted_file Enter the key password: decrypted_file saved with successThis project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Vin Busquet GitHub
- Only works with Python 3.
- It does not work if the concealed file is greater than the original input file.
- Output image is limited to PNG format only.
- I did not test with all concealed file types. Feel free to report any bug you find.
For details, check out CONTRIBUTING.md.
For details, check out CHANGELOG.md.