steganography
Data inside images
Steganography is the practice of hiding secret information within ordinary-looking data—concealing a message inside an image file, audio track, or innocuous text so that no one suspects anything is hidden at all.
Unlike encryption, which scrambles content visibly, steganography disguises the very existence of the secret: The spy used steganography to embed instructions in vacation photos.
Embedding ownership indicators
- microdotsDrastically reduced photographs
- acrosticVertically spelled hidden message
- maskingConcealing by covering
- interleavingAlternating elements from sequences
Hidden writing system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- keyLock-opening device
hash · cryptanalysis · cryptosystem · AES · RSA · obfuscation · plaintext · ciphertext
Visual or mental likeness
- audioTransmitted sound content
- videoRecorded moving imagery
- textWritten or printed words
- multimediaCombined content formats
Covert message transfer location
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- spyCovert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- exfiltrationCovert withdrawal of people/data
Unknown identity state
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- whistleblowingExposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
watermarking
Embedding ownership indicators
cipher
Hidden writing system
- encryptionConverting data into code
- decryptionConverting ciphertext to plaintext
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
key · hash · cryptanalysis · cryptosystem · AES · RSA · obfuscation · plaintext · ciphertext
image
Visual or mental likeness
multimedia · JPEG · PNG · MP3 · WAV · PDF · HTML · protocol · RGB · pixel
dead-drop
Covert message transfer location
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- spyCovert information gatherer
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
exfiltration · tradecraft · classified · counterintelligence
anonymity
Unknown identity state
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
- whistleblowingExposing hidden wrongdoing internally
- untraceableImpossible to follow back
steganographyopen communication
Unrestricted exchange of information
plaintext · public disclosure · broadcasting · cleartext · open channel
steganographycryptography
Science of secure messaging
encryption · ciphertext · encoding · cryptanalysis · hashing
steganographypublic disclosure
Revealing information openly
transparency · proclamation · declaration · announcement · exposure