# How to Hide text inside images using Steghide | Stenography in Linux **URL:** \ **Category:** Tutorials & Methods\ **Tags:** tools\ **Created:** [May 26, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-to-hide-text-inside-images-using-steghide-stenography-in-linux/88334 "2020-05-26T04:26:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jenna](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/jenna/32/166322_2.png) [@Jenna](https://onehack.st/u/Jenna)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://onehack.st/t/how-to-hide-text-inside-images-using-steghide-stenography-in-linux/88334/1 "2020-05-26T04:26:44Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLdyeorWR_Y/maxresdefault.jpg) ](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zLdyeorWR_Y/maxresdefault.jpg) # Introduction : Steghide is a steganography program that is able to hide data in various kinds of image- and audio-files. The color- respectivly sample-frequencies are not changed thus making the embedding resistant against first-order statistical tests. The current version of steghide is 0.5.1 Features: \*) compression of embedded data \*) encryption of embedded data \*) embedding of a checksum to verify the integrity of the extraced data \*) support for JPEG, BMP, WAV and AU files # Steganography : Steganography literally means covered writing. Its goal is to hide the fact that communication is taking place. This is often achieved by using a (rather large) cover file and embedding the (rather short) secret message into this file. The result is a innocuous looking file (the stego file) that contains the secret message. # Compilation and Installation : [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LJt333vksHQ/hqdefault.jpg "Hide text inside images (stenography) in linux!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJt333vksHQ) ## Dependencies : You should have the following libraries installed to use steghide. - libmhash A library that provides various hash algorithms and cryptographic key generation algorithms. Steghide needs this library to convert a passphrase into a form that can be used as input for cryptographic and steganographic algorithms. Available at: [http://mhash.sourceforge.net/](http://mhash.sourceforge.net/) - libmcrypt A library that provides a lot of symmetric encryption algorithms. If you compile steghide without libmcrypt you will not be able to use steghide to encrypt data before embedding nor to extract encrypted data (even if you know the correct passphrase). Available at: [http://mcrypt.sourceforge.net/](http://mcrypt.sourceforge.net/) - libjpeg A library implementing jpeg image compression. Without this library you will not be able to embed data in jpeg files nor to extract data from jpeg files. Available at: [http://www.ijg.org/](http://www.ijg.org/) - zlib A lossless data compression library. If you compile steghide without having this library installed you will not be able to use steghide to compress data before embedding nor to extract compressed data from a stego-file. Available at: [http://www.gzip.org/zlib/](http://www.gzip.org/zlib/) Libmhash is absolutely required to compile steghide. While you can compile it without the other libraries they are highly recommended as major functionality will not be available without them. ## Linux / Unix : After unpacking the source distribution, enter the following commands: 1. ./configure 2. make 3. make check 4. make install (as root) For more information see the generic installation instructions in the file INSTALL that came with the distribution. If any of these commands fails, please send a mail to the steghide development mailing list ([steghide-devel@lists.sourceforge.net](mailto:steghide-devel@lists.sourceforge.net)) describing the error. ## Windows : The easiest way is to download the precompiled binary (including Windows versions of the necessary libraries) from the steghide website at: > **[Steghide](https://steghide.sourceforge.net/index.php)** If you want to compile the sources yourself you need a C++ compiler. How you need to compile the source code depends on the compiler you are using: Please consult your compiler’s documentation. Steghide can be compiled with gcc in the cygwin environment ([http://www.cygwin.com/](http://www.cygwin.com/)) which is a unix emulation layer for Windows using the procedure mentioned above for the Linux/Unix compilation. # Quick-Start : Here are some examples of how steghide can be used. Take a look at these to get a first impression. If you want more detailed information please read the manpage. The basic usage is as follows: $ steghide embed -cf picture.jpg -ef secret.txt Enter passphrase: Re-Enter passphrase: embedding “secret.txt” in “picture.jpg”… done This command will embed the file secret.txt in the cover file picture.jpg. After you have embedded your secret data as shown above you can send the file picture.jpg to the person who should receive the secret message. The receiver has to use steghide in the following way: $ steghide extract -sf picture.jpg Enter passphrase: wrote extracted data to “secret.txt”. If the supplied passphrase is correct, the contents of the original file secret.txt will be extracted from the stego file picture.jpg and saved in the current directory. If you have received a file that contains embedded data and you want to get some information about it before extracting it, use the info command: $ steghide info received\_file.wav “received\_file.wav”: format: wave audio, PCM encoding capacity: 3.5 KB Try to get information about embedded data ? (y/n) y Enter passphrase: embedded file “secret.txt”: size: 1.6 KB encrypted: rijndael-128, cbc compressed: yes After printing some general information about the stego file (format, capacity) you will be asked if steghide should try to get information about the embedded data. If you answer with yes you have to supply a passphrase. Steghide will then try to extract the embedded data with that passphrase and - if it succeeds - print some information about it. # Contact : ## Website : You can get the latest version of steghide as well as some additional information and documentation from the steghide website at: > **[Steghide](https://steghide.sourceforge.net/)** ## Mailing Lists : If you have found a bug or if you have questions, comments, suggestions, etc. please send a mail to the development mailing list: [steghide-devel@lists.sourceforge.net](mailto:steghide-devel@lists.sourceforge.net) To receive mails sent to this list, subscribe to it at: > **[steghide-devel List Signup and Options](https://sourceforge.net/projects/steghide/lists/steghide-devel)** > > Steghide is a steganography program that is able to hide data in various kinds > of image- and audio-files. The color- respectivly sample-frequencies… If you want to be informed, when a new version of steghide is released please subscribe to the steghide announcement mailing list at: > **[steghide-announce List Signup and Options](https://sourceforge.net/projects/steghide/lists/steghide-announce)** > > Steghide is a steganography program that is able to hide data in various kinds > of image- and audio-files. The color- respectivly sample-frequencies… ## Anonymous CVS access : You can access the most recent development source code via anonymous cvs. Just type the following lines: $ cvs [-d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.steghide.sourceforge.net](mailto:-d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.steghide.sourceforge.net):/cvsroot/steghide login CVS password: [Hit RETURN here] $ cvs -z3 [-d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.steghide.sourceforge.net](mailto:-d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.steghide.sourceforge.net):/cvsroot/steghide co steghide You can also browse the cvs repository on the web: > **[steghide](https://sourceforge.net/projects/steghide/)** > > Download steghide for free. Steghide is a steganography program that is able to hide data in various kinds > of image- and audio-files. The color- respectivly sample-frequencies are not > changed thus making the embedding resistant against first-order... ## Author : You can contact me (Stefan Hetzl) via e-mail: shetzl@chello.at