A review of image steganalysis techniques for digital forensics

Abstract Steganalysis and steganography are the two different sides of the same coin. Steganography tries to hide messages in plain sight while steganalysis tries to detect their existence or even more to retrieve the embedded data. Both steganography and steganalysis received a great deal of attention, especially from law enforcement. While cryptography in many countries is being outlawed or limited, cyber criminals or even terrorists are extensively using steganography to avoid being arrested with encrypted incriminating material in their possession. Therefore, understanding the ways that messages can be embedded in a digital medium –in most cases in digital images-, and knowledge of state of the art methods to detect hidden information, is essential in exposing criminal activity. Digital image steganography is growing in use and application. Many powerful and robust methods of steganography and steganalysis have been presented in the literature over the last few years. In this literature review, we will discuss and present various steganalysis techniques – from earlier ones to state of the art- used for detection of hidden data embedded in digital images using various steganography techniques.