What is Steganography?

Steganography is the practice of hiding data within other data, such as embedding a secret message inside an image, audio, or video file. Unlike encryption, which makes data unreadable without a key, steganography conceals the existence of the data itself, making it difficult to detect.

Using Steghide on Kali Linux

Steghide is a command-line tool in Kali Linux that allows you to embed and extract data within image or audio files while preserving the original file’s appearance and quality.

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Steps to Use Steghide

1. Install Steghide

Steghide is pre-installed on Kali Linux. If not, install it with:

sudo apt-get install steghide

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2. Embed Data

To hide data within a file:

steghide embed -cf <cover_file> -ef <embedded_file>

• <cover_file>: The file to hide data in (e.g., image.jpg or audio.wav).
• <embedded_file>: The file to hide (e.g., secret.txt).

You will be prompted to set a passphrase for encryption.

Example:

steghide embed -cf image.jpg -ef secret.txt

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3. Extract Data

To retrieve the hidden data:

steghide extract -sf <stego_file>

• <stego_file>: The file containing the hidden data.

Example:

steghide extract -sf image.jpg

You will be prompted to enter the passphrase.

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Key Features of Steghide

• Supports various file formats like BMP, JPEG, WAV, and AU.
• Uses encryption to secure hidden data.
• Preserves the quality and size of the cover file.

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Use Case Example

If you want to securely send a password to someone, you can:

1. Create a text file (password.txt) with the password.
2. Embed it in an image (photo.jpg) using Steghide.
3. Share the image along with the passphrase via different channels for enhanced security.