CSEC6635 Secure Coding

Steganography is the practice of concealing secret data within another file or message to prevent detection. As an extra security step, the use of steganography can also be combined with encryption.

Your objective in this Lab Assignment is to apply obfuscation techniques using steganography for data protection purposes.

To prepare

Download the files located at https://github.com/padolph/StampInfosec/tree/master/Chapter5/stego

To complete

1. Download the files to your Linux/Ubuntu Desktop

2. Compile stego and stegoRead

gcc –o stego stego.c

gcc –o stegoRead stegoRead.c

3. Use the stego program to insert a file of your choice (text, PowerPoint, PDF, etc.) into a bmp image file of your choice. You will need to retrieve a suitable BMP to use as a cover image, followed by the payload. Place the desired files in the same directory as the “stego” program. The size of the bmp and the size of the payload file impact the image. If your image is not clear after you insert the payload, your payload file may be too big for the size of the bmp you selected. Find a smaller payload file or a larger bmp.

./stego yourbmp.bmp yourbmp_out.bmp yourinputfile

4. Then, extract the information to verify to yourself that you were successful.

./stegoRead yourbmp_out.bmp yourbmp_out_text.

5. Include the payload file (the file you inserted) and the image with the message in it.

Submit the following files:

1. Input file

2. Image file containing the hidden message.

3. A report in which you briefly reflect on your experience and the value of the knowledge gained from completing this Lab Assignment.