Hide Secret Message Inside Image Securely
🔒 Image Steganography Tool — Hide secret information within an image by modifying low-level pixel data. The visual appearance remains unchanged, while hidden content can be protected using multiple encryption algorithms.
💡 Need full image protection? Try our Image Encryption & Decryption Tool to encrypt the entire image instead of embedding data inside it.
🛡 Privacy First: All processing happens locally in your browser. No uploads, no tracking, no backend databases — just you and your images.
🔐 Supported Encryption Algorithms
🔒 All algorithms use PBKDF2 key derivation with 100,000 iterations for passphrase-based encryption.
Text to be embedded in image
PNG recommended for lossless embedding. Capacity depends on image size and bits per channel.
All encryption runs locally in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
✓ Message Embedded Successfully!
Extract Text
✓ Message Extracted Successfully!
📄 How Image Steganography Works
This tool embeds hidden information into image pixels using the LSB (Least Significant Bit) technique. The picture continues to look identical to the human eye while secretly containing your message distributed across color channels.
For additional security, your data can be encrypted with AES-256 or other algorithms before embedding, ensuring that even if someone detects hidden data, they cannot read it without your passphrase.
No uploads, no tracking, no server storage. Everything runs in your browser.
Optional encryption with 7 different algorithms including AES-256-GCM.
Hidden data is undetectable - the image looks completely normal.
🔬 Technical Deep Dive: LSB Pixel Manipulation
Every digital image is composed of pixels, and each pixel stores color information as numeric values. In a typical 24-bit image, each pixel has three color channels (Red, Green, Blue), with each channel storing a value from 0-255 using 8 bits.
The Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique works by modifying the rightmost bit of each color value. Since this bit only contributes 1/256th of the color intensity, changing it produces imperceptible visual differences. For example, changing a pixel from RGB(142, 87, 203) to RGB(143, 86, 202) is invisible to the human eye.
Capacity Calculation
With our tool, you can configure how many bits per channel to use (1-4 bits). Here's how capacity scales:
- 1 bit/channel: Maximum stealth, minimal capacity (3 bits per pixel)
- 2 bits/channel: Good balance of capacity and invisibility (6 bits per pixel)
- 4 bits/channel: Maximum capacity, slight artifacts possible in gradients (12 bits per pixel)
A 1920x1080 image with 1 bit/channel can hide approximately 778 KB of data - enough for substantial text messages or small files.
🔐 Encryption Layer: Double Protection
While steganography hides the existence of your message, encryption protects its contents if discovered. Our tool combines both approaches for maximum security:
✔ Without Passphrase
Message is embedded directly. Anyone with this tool can extract it. Suitable for non-sensitive data or watermarks.
🔒 With Passphrase
Message is encrypted before embedding. Even if extracted, the data appears as random noise without the correct key.
Choosing Your Encryption Algorithm
Select based on your security needs and compatibility requirements:
- AES-256-GCM (Recommended): Industry standard with authentication - prevents tampering detection
- XSalsa20-Poly1305: Modern, fast stream cipher - excellent for longer messages
- AES-256-CBC/CTR: Classic modes when GCM isn't required
- Triple DES: Legacy compatibility with older systems
💡 Pro Tips for Better Results
🎨 Image Selection
- Use photographs with natural textures (landscapes, crowds, foliage)
- Avoid images with large solid-color areas or sharp geometric patterns
- Higher resolution = more hiding capacity
💾 Format Considerations
- PNG: Lossless - your hidden data stays intact
- JPG: Compression may corrupt hidden bits after re-saving
- Always use PNG for the output stego image
⚠ What to Avoid
- Don't recompress or resize stego images
- Don't apply filters or edits after embedding
- Don't use screenshots of stego images - use original files
🔍 Detection Resistance and Limitations
LSB steganography is invisible to casual observers but can be detected by statistical analysis tools (steganalysis). Here's what you should know:
- Visual Inspection: Undetectable - even comparing original and stego images side-by-side reveals nothing
- File Size: PNG output may differ slightly from original due to compression differences, not the hidden data
- Statistical Analysis: Specialized tools analyzing bit distributions may detect LSB modifications in high-fill scenarios
- Mitigation: Use lower bits-per-channel settings and don't fill more than 50% of available capacity for better stealth