A new randomized data hiding algorithm with encrypted secret message using modified generalized Vernam Cipher Method: RAN-SEC algorithm

This paper proposes a new method for hiding any encrypted secret message inside a cover file by substituting the LSB of randomly selected bytes of cover file. For encrypting secret message we have used a new algorithm called Modified Generalized Vernam Cipher Method (MGVCM). For hiding secret message we have proposed a new method in which we have inserted the bits of each character of secret message file in the LSB of eight randomly selected bytes of the cover file. The randomly selected bytes read from cover file correspond to successive locations of a randomized offset matrix starting from a certain base address in cover file. The offset matrix is randomized using the randomization method of the previously published MSA encryption method. The randomized embedding of message in a cover file gives an additional layer of security over the encryption.