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Electronics

Two Novel Quantum Steganography Algorithms Based on LSB for Multichannel Floating-Point Quantum Representation of Digital Signals

Meiyu Xu, Dayong Lu, Youlin Shang, Muhua Liu, Songtao Guo

Published Jul 20, 2025• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Currently, quantum steganography schemes utilizing the least significant bit (LSB) approach are primarily optimized for fixed-point data processing, yet they encounter precision limitations when handling extended floating-point data structures owing to quantization error accumulation. To overcome precision constraints in quantum data hiding, the EPlsb-MFQS and MVlsb-MFQS quantum steganography algorithms are constructed based on the LSB approach in this study. The multichannel floating-point quantum representation of digital signals (MFQS) model enhances information hiding by augmenting the number of available channels, thereby increasing the embedding capacity of the LSB approach. Firstly, we analyze the limitations of fixed-point signals steganography schemes and propose the conventional quantum steganography scheme based on the LSB approach for the MFQS model, achieving enhanced embedding capacity. Moreover, the enhanced embedding efficiency of the EPlsb-MFQS algorithm primarily stems from the superposition probability adjustment of the LSB approach. Then, to prevent an unauthorized person easily extracting secret messages, we utilize channel qubits and position qubits as novel carriers during quantum message encoding. The secret message is encoded into the signal’s qubits of the transmission using a particular modulo value rather than through sequential embedding, thereby enhancing the security and reducing the time complexity in the MVlsb-MFQS algorithm. However, this algorithm in the spatial domain has low robustness and security. Therefore, an improved method of transferring the steganographic process to the quantum Fourier transformed domain to further enhance security is also proposed. This scheme establishes the essential building blocks for quantum signal processing, paving the way for advanced quantum algorithms. Compared with available quantum steganography schemes, the proposed steganography schemes achieve significant improvements in embedding efficiency and security. Finally, we theoretically delineate, in detail, the quantum circuit design and operation process.

DOI
10.3390/electronics14142899

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Currently, quantum steganography schemes utilizing the least significant bit (LSB) approach are primarily optimized for fixed-point data processing, yet they encounter precision limitations when handling extended floating-point data structures owing to quantization error accumulation. To overcome precision constraints in quantum data hiding, the EPlsb-MFQS and MVlsb-MFQS quantum steganography algorithms are constructed based on the LSB approach in this study. The multichannel floating-point quantum representation of digital signals (MFQS) model enhances information hiding by augmenting the number of available channels, thereby increasing the embedding capacity of the LSB approach. Firstly, we analyze the limitations of fixed-point signals steganography schemes and propose the conventional quantum steganography scheme based on the LSB approach for the MFQS model, achieving enhanced embedding capacity. Moreover, the enhanced embedding efficiency of the EPlsb-MFQS algorithm primarily stems from the superposition probability adjustment of the LSB approach. Then, to prevent an unauthorized person easily extracting secret messages, we utilize channel qubits and position qubits as novel carriers during quantum message encoding. The secret message is encoded into the signal’s qubits of the transmission using a particular modulo value rather than through sequential embedding, thereby enhancing the security and reducing the time complexity in the MVlsb-MFQS algorithm. However, this algorithm in the spatial domain has low robustness and security. Therefore, an improved method of transferring the steganographic process to the quantum Fourier transformed domain to further enhance security is also proposed. This scheme establishes the essential building blocks for quantum signal processing, paving the way for advanced quantum algorithms. Compared with available quantum steganography schemes, the proposed steganography schemes achieve significant improvements in embedding efficiency and security. Finally, we theoretically delineate, in detail, the quantum circuit design and operation process.
In the realm of cybersecurity, the demand for robust encryption and secure data hiding techniques has intensified with the proliferation of digital communication and sensitive information exchange. This paper explores integration of QC advancements for enhancing the security of two critical cryptographic applications: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption and Least Significant Bit (LSB) image steganography. Quantum computing introduces the concept of qubits, which harness quantum mechanical phenomena to perform computations that classical computers struggle to achieve efficiently. By leveraging qubits, AES encryption can potentially benefit from enhanced key generation and encryption processes, thereby strengthening data confidentiality against conventional and future quantum attacks. Additionally, this paper investigates the application of quantum-inspired techniques to optimize the LSB method in image steganography. LSB embedding involves hiding data within LSB of image pixels, technique vulnerable to statistical attacks. Quantum-inspired approaches aim to mitigate these vulnerabilities by improving embedding efficiency and robustness without compromising image quality. Through theoretical analysis and simulation studies, this research evaluates the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating quantum computing into AES encryption and LSB steganography. The findings underscore the promise of quantum-enhanced methods in fortifying data security across digital platforms, laying the groundwork for future advancements in quantum cryptography and information hiding techniques.
Abstract This paper introduces two novel quantum audio steganography methods that incorporate the logical properties of entangled qubits into the least significant qubit steganography (LSQb) approach. The first method, called entanglement-assisted probability adjustment LSB (EP-LSQb), optimizes the superposition probability of the lowest qubits before embedding the information. This addresses the ‘value-pairing’ problem and improves anti-statistical analysis performance and embedding efficiency. The second method, called quantum phase direct embedding LSB (PD-LSQb), extends traditional LSB steganography by directly embedding the secret speech into the least significant qubit. Quantum circuits are constructed for both methods to demonstrate their feasibility. Theoretical analysis and simulation experiments show that these methods exhibit good imperceptibility (PSNR>50{\text{PSNR}}>50PSNR>50) and embedding efficiency. Particularly, EP-LSQb method enhances the theoretical limit of embedding efficiency when compared to its corresponding classical counterparts. Additionally, due to the inclusion of entangled qubit particles, our methods offer competitive content security and noise robustness, distinguishing them from classical LSB or general LSQb methods and highlighting the unique advantages of quantum approaches.
One of the most considering matters in the field of quantum information processing is quantum data hiding including quantum steganography and quantum watermarking. This field is an efficient tool for protecting any kind of digital data. In this paper, three quantum color images steganography algorithms are investigated based on Least Significant Bit (LSB). The first algorithm employs only one of the image’s channels to cover secret data. The second procedure is based on LSB XORing technique, and the last algorithm utilizes two channels to cover the color image for hiding secret quantum data. The performances of the proposed schemes are analyzed by using software simulations in MATLAB environment. The analysis of PSNR, BER and Histogram graphs indicate that the presented schemes exhibit acceptable performances and also theoretical analysis demonstrates that the networks complexity of the approaches scales squarely.
Several approaches and techniques exist to make communication via the internet secure, one of these approaches is steganography. Computer steganography is a technique used to conceal data within cover media, ensuring that its presence remains undetected by others. We investigate the steganography potential applications in quantum communication and assess its benefits in the context of secret information transmission. Quantum computers, built on the principles of quantum physics, have introduced new possibilities for researchers in security and computer science. This paper explores the possibilities of realizing a quantum steganography communication, the challenges and its achievements of quantum steganography to tackle a wide range of security and privacy challenges. The article deals with the steganography system which hides text inside images and after that realize quantum communication. The secret message is hidden in the cover image using Least Significant Bit (LSB) algorithm. The paper proposes an information transmission scheme with a quantum channel enabled and visualization of quantum steganography protocol.
Digital steganography is the art and science of hiding information in covert channels, so as to conceal the information and prevent the detection of hidden messages. On the classic computer, the principle and method of digital steganography has been widely and deeply studied, and has been initially extended to the field of quantum computing. Quantum image steganography is a relatively active branch of quantum image processing, and the main strategy currently used is to modify the LSB of the cover image pixels. For the existing LSB-based quantum image steganography schemes, the embedding capacity is no more than 3 bits per pixel. Therefore, it is meaningful to study how to improve the embedding capacity of quantum image steganography. This work presents a novel steganography using reflected Gray code for color quantum images, and the embedding capacity of this scheme is up to 6 bits per pixel. In proposed scheme, the secret qubit sequence is considered as a sequence of 6-bit segments. For 6 bits in each segment, the first 3 bits are embedded into the second LSB of RGB channels of the cover image, and the remaining 3 bits are embedded into the LSB of RGB channels of the cover image using reflected-Gray code to determine the embedded bit from secret information. Following the transforming rule, the LSBs of stego-image are not always same as the secret bits and the differences are up to almost 50%. Experimental results confirm that the proposed scheme shows good performance and outperforms the previous ones currently found in the literature in terms of embedding capacity.
This paper describes a novel steganography algorithm that combines quantum computing with the least significant bit technique (LSB). Using the quantum properties, along with the Python programming language and the Qiskit framework for the circuit simulation, a sub-image can be hidden inside a usual image. For a gray image, this article presents how the LSB of each of the first 16 pixels on the edges can be used to hide two threshold values, that are then used to filter out the image and reveal the secret message. The speedup, compared to the classical version, is possible due to the quantum representation of an image (NEQR is used in this paper) and the efficiency of the novel multi-bit quantum comparators.