An efficient watermark-driven steganographic framework for secure multimedia communication
Sanjay Kumarsnjay1991@gmail.comDepartment of Basic Science and HumanitiesPranveer Singh Institute of TechnologyKanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 209305, IndiaView full profile → , Man Mohan Shuklamsshukla@psit.ac.inDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringPranveer Singh Institute of TechnologyKanpur, Uttar Pradesh, 209305, IndiaView full profile → , Ajay Kumar Phogatajayphogat@msijanakpuri.comDepartment of Business AdministrationMaharaja Surajmal InstituteJanakpuri, Delhi, 110058, IndiaView full profile → , Sanat Jainsanatjain@vitbhopal.ac.inDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringSchool of Computing Science and EngineeringVIT Bhopal UniversitySehore, Madhya Pradesh, 466114, IndiaView full profile → , Reenu Batrareenubatra88@gmail.comDepartment of Computer Science and EngineeringSchool of Engineering & TechnologyK. R. Mangalam UniversityGurugram, Haryana, 122103, IndiaView full profile → , *Prashant VatsCorresponding authorprashant.vats@jaipur.manipal.eduDepartment of Computer Science & EngineeringManipal University JaipurJaipur, Rajasthan, 303007, IndiaView full profile →
* Corresponding author · click or hover a name for details
- Received:
- 01 Mar 2026
- Published Online:
- 14 Aug 2026
- Article type:
- Research Article
- Language:
- EN
- Article no.:
- JDMSC-2813
- Pages:
- 3259–3268
Abstract
Secure multimedia communication over open networks requires techniques that ensure confidentiality while concealing the existence of hidden data. This paper proposes an efficient watermark-driven steganographic framework that combines digital watermarking with adaptive data embedding to provide dual-layer security. A robust watermark is first embedded into the host signal, and secret information is then concealed within the watermark structure, improving imperceptibility and resistance to common signal processing attacks. Performance is evaluated using PSNR, SSIM, embedding capacity, and robustness metrics. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high visual quality, increased payload, and strong resilience, making it suitable for secure multimedia transmission and covert communication applications.
Keywords
Subject Classifications
References
[1] H. T. S. Alrikabi and H. T. Hazim, “Enhanced data security of communication system using combined encryption and steganography,” Int. J. Interact. Mobile Technol. (iJIM), vol. 15, no. 16, p. 145 (2021).
[2] N. F. Soliman, M. I. Khalil, A. D. Algarni, S. Ismail, R. Marzouk, and W. El-Shafai, “Efficient HEVC steganography approach based on audio compression and encryption in QFFT domain for secure multimedia communication,” Multimedia Tools Appl., vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 4789–4823 (2021).
[3] S. Rahman, F. Masood, W. U. Khan, N. Ullah, F. Q. Khan, G. Tsaramirsis, S. Jan, and M. Ashraf, “A novel approach of image steganography for secure communication based on LSB substitution technique,” Comput. Mater. Continua, vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 31–44 (2020).
[4] U. K. Mondal, S. Pal, A. Dutta, and J. K. Mandal, “A new approach to enhance security of visual cryptography using steganography (VisUS),” arXiv preprint arXiv:2103.09477 (2021).
[5] S. Zaware, “Crypto-steganography approach for secure data transmission using image and audio files,” Vidyabharati Int. Interdiscip. Res. J., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 409–415 (2021).
[6] S. Farrag and W. Alexan, “Secure 2D image steganography using Recamán’s sequence,” in Proc. Int. Conf. Adv. Commun. Technol. Netw. (CommNet), pp. 1–6 (2019).
[7] D. Pandey, S. Wairya, R. S. Al Mahdawi, S. A.-D. M. Najim, H. A. Khalaf, S. M. Al-Barzinji, and A. J. Obaid, “Secret data transmission using advance steganography and image compression,” International Journal of Nonlinear Analysis and Applications, vol. 12, Special Issue, pp. 1243–1257 (2021), doi: 10.22075/IJNAA.2021.5635.
[8] O. F. A. Wahab, A. A. Khalaf, A. I. Hussein, and H. F. Hamed, “Hiding data using efficient combination of RSA cryptography and compression steganography techniques,” IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 31805–31815 (2021).
[9] A. Malaghan, M. Aditya, B. Ajith, S. Anjana, and G. P. N. Karthik, “Combined steganography and image cryptography system for secure data transfer,” ACS J. Sci. Eng., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 63–72 (2022).
[10] S. Alkhliwi, “Encryption-based image steganography technique for secure medical image transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Int. J. Comput. Sci. Netw. Secur., vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 83–93 (2021).
[11] W. A. Awadh, A. S. Hashim, and A. K. Hamoud, “Efficiently secure data communications based on CBC-RC6 and the overflow field of timestamp option in an IPv4 packet,” Informatica, vol. 46, no. 6, pp. 125–133 (2022).
[12] H. Chaudhary and V. P. Vishwakarma, “A survey: Digital image watermarking recent trends and techniques,” J. Inf. Optim. Sci., vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 1051–1059 (2024), doi: 10.47974/JIOS-1627.
[13] S. M. Nejrs, “Medical images utilization for significant data hiding based on machine learning,” J. Discrete Math. Sci. Cryptogr., vol. 26, no. 7, pp. 1971–1979 (2023), doi: 10.47974/JDMSC-1785.
[14] P. Saxena and S. Kumar, “Robust video watermarking algorithm based on motion frames and encryption,” J. Discrete Math. Sci. Cryptogr., vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 1327–1339 (2023), doi: 10.47974/JDMSC-1748.
[15] A. Saini, S. Bhardwaj, R. Garg, and T. Kaur, “Systematic comparison of digital video watermarking aspects with techniques and algorithm designing issue,” J. Discrete Math. Sci. Cryptogr., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 999–1010 (2024), doi: 10.47974/JDMSC-1646.
