CYBER SECURITY:DATA PROTECTION USING HYBRID ENCRYPTION AND STEGANOGRAPHY

Abstract

With the rapid growth of digital communication, securing sensitive data from unauthorized access has become a critical concern. Traditional encryption techniques provide confidentiality but may still attract attention from attackers, while steganography hides the existence of data but lacks strong security when used alone. This project proposes a hybrid approach that combines encryption and steganography to enhance data protection in cyber security systems. In the proposed system, sensitive data is first encrypted using advanced cryptographic algorithms such as AES or RSA to ensure confidentiality. The encrypted data is then embedded into digital media such as images using steganographic techniques like Least Significant Bit (LSB) embedding. This duallayer security ensures that even if the hidden data is detected, it remains encrypted and unreadable without the appropriate key. The system is implemented using Python and evaluated based on parameters such as security strength, imperceptibility, and robustness. Experimental results show that the hybrid approach provides higher security compared to standalone encryption or steganography methods. This solution is suitable for secure communication in various applications including military, banking, and confidential data transmission.