Steganography Suite built with Python 3 PyTk

Complete CLI tool for steganography with multiple embedding methods:

• LSB Image Steganography: Hide text/files in images using Least Significant Bit techniques
• MP3 Audio Steganography: Hide text/files/images in MP3 files using ID3 tags

All methods support optional AES-256-GCM encryption with password protection.

Setup

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

Features

Image Steganography (LSB)

• lsb: Basic sequential LSB substitution
• lsb-prng: Pixels selected via PRNG permutation using --prng-key
• lsb-match-prng: LSB matching (±1) with PRNG permutation
• Optional AES-256-GCM encryption

MP3 Steganography (ID3 Tags)

• Embed text messages, files, or images in MP3 files
• Automatic payload type detection on extraction
• Optional AES-256-GCM encryption
• Preserves audio quality and playback

Note: Use lossless image formats (PNG) for outputs; JPEG recompression will destroy hidden data.

Usage

Graphical User Interface (GUI)

Launch the GUI application with a user-friendly interface:

python3 1_Implementation/gui.py

The GUI provides:

• Tabbed Interface: Separate tabs for Image, MP3, and MP4 encode/decode operations
• File Browsing: Easy file selection with native file dialogs
• Visual Feedback: Status bar showing operation progress and results
• Data Extraction Display: Built-in text viewer for extracted content
• Password Protection: Simple password entry for encrypted operations

Features:

• Image steganography (LSB) with text/file/image embedding
• MP3 audio steganography with auto-detection of payload types
• MP4 video steganography with comprehensive data embedding
• Optional encryption/decryption with passwords
• Real-time status updates and error messages
• Clear and intuitive workflow for each media type

Image Steganography

Encode text into image (basic LSB):

python3 1_Implementation/app.py encode --image cover.png --out secret.png --message "hello world"

Encode with PRNG permutation:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py encode --image cover.png --out secret.png --message "hello world" --method lsb-prng --prng-key "my-key"

Encode with LSB matching + PRNG:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py encode --image cover.png --out secret.png --message "hello world" --method lsb-match-prng --prng-key "my-key"

Encode file with encryption:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py encode --image cover.png --out secret.png --in-file notes.txt --password "strong passphrase"

Decode from image:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image secret.png --method lsb

Decode encrypted image to file:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image secret.png --out extracted.txt --password "strong passphrase"

MP3 Steganography

Embed text message in MP3:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-encode --mp3 song.mp3 --out output.mp3 --message "Secret message"

Embed text with encryption:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-encode --mp3 song.mp3 --out output.mp3 --message "Secret message" --password "secure_key"

Embed file in MP3:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-encode --mp3 song.mp3 --out output.mp3 --in-file secret.zip

Embed image in MP3:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-encode --mp3 song.mp3 --out output.mp3 --image secret.png

Extract from MP3 (auto-detects type):

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-decode --mp3 output.mp3 --out extracted_data

Extract encrypted MP3:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-decode --mp3 output.mp3 --out extracted_data --password "secure_key"

MP4 Steganography

Embed text message in MP4:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-encode --mp4 video.mp4 --out output.mp4 --message "Secret message"

Embed text with encryption:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-encode --mp4 video.mp4 --out output.mp4 --message "Secret message" --password "secure_key"

Embed image in MP4:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-encode --mp4 video.mp4 --out output.mp4 --image secret.png

Embed MP3 in MP4:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-encode --mp4 video.mp4 --out output.mp4 --mp3 audio.mp3

Extract from MP4 (auto-detects type):

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-decode --mp4 output.mp4 --out extracted_data

Extract encrypted MP4:

python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp4-decode --mp4 output.mp4 --out extracted_data --password "secure_key"

Complete Example Workflow

# 1. Hide text in image using LSB
python3 1_Implementation/app.py encode --image cover.png --out image_with_text.png --message "Secret message"

# 2. Hide the image file in MP3
python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-encode --mp3 song.mp3 --out song_with_image.mp3 --image image_with_text.png

# 3. Extract image from MP3
python3 1_Implementation/app.py mp3-decode --mp3 song_with_image.mp3 --out recovered_image.png

# 4. Extract text from recovered image
python3 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image recovered_image.png --out final_message.txt

Testing

Run the comprehensive test suite:

python3 test_suite.py

This validates all functionality including:

• LSB image steganography
• LSB with encryption
• MP3 text embedding
• MP3 image embedding
• MP3 file embedding
• MP3 encrypted embedding
• MP4 text embedding
• MP4 image embedding
• MP4 MP3 embedding
• MP4 encrypted embedding

Expected Result: 10/10 tests passed

Decode (PRNG-based):

python 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image secret.png --method lsb-prng --prng-key "my-key"
# or for LSB matching
python 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image secret.png --method lsb-match-prng --prng-key "my-key"

Decode to a file:

python 1_Implementation/app.py decode --image secret.png --out recovered.bin --method lsb

Add --verbose to see debug logging.

Run script (macOS)

./run.sh encode --image cover.png --out secret.png --message "hi" --method lsb
./run.sh decode --image secret.png --method lsb

Resources

• Steganography - Wikipedia
• Python Image Library (Pillow) - Website