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Difference between Steganography and Cryptography
Steganography, or cover writing, is a method where a secret method is converted into fake looking message. This technique helps to keep a message secret. It is pretty difficult to use and understand. The structure of data remains unaltered in Steganography. It is used in text, audio, video or images.
Cryptography, or secret writing, is a method where a secret method is converted in cipher text and sent to other person who then decrypt the cipher text into plain text. Cryptography can be classified as Symmetric key cryptography or Asymmetric key cryptography.
Read through this article to find out more about Steganography and Cryptography and how they are different from each other.
What is Steganography?
Data that is buried within data is referred to as steganography. Steganography is an encryption technique that can be used in conjunction with cryptography to provide an extra layer of security for data protection.
Images, video files, and audio files can all benefit from steganography techniques. Steganography is typically written in characters with hash markings, although it is also commonly used within graphics. Steganography, in any case, safeguards copyrighted materials from piracy while also facilitating unauthorized viewing.
Unlike cryptography, which is designed to be incomprehensible to an unauthorized third party, steganography is designed to be hidden from a third party. Not only must the confidential data be discovered—a problematic effort in and of itself—but it must also be encrypted, which can be difficult.
Watermarking, which hides copyright information within a watermark by overlaying files that are not easily identified by the naked eye, is one example of steganography. This helps to avoid fraud and gives copyrighted media an extra layer of security.
Based on circumstantial evidence, there is some speculation that the terrorists who plotted and carried out the 9/11 attack in New York City used steganography. This is what first brought the science of stenography to the public's attention. A file transfer or, more frequently than not, email can steal and encrypt data. Steganography can also be used for covert communications involving terrorist plots, as has been suspected in the case of 9/11. The military has used steganography for decades, even if it is not computer-based.
What is Cryptography?
Cryptography is the process of constructing codes, either written or generated, that allow information to be kept private. Cryptography turns data into an unreadable format for unauthorized users, allowing it to be communicated without the data being compromised by unauthorized entities decoding it back into a readable format.
On numerous levels, cryptography is used in information security. Without a key to decrypt the data, it is impossible to read it. During transit and storage, the information maintains its integrity. Nonrepudiation is also aided by cryptography. This means that a message's sender and delivery may be verified.
Cryptology is another name for cryptography. The usage of key pairs in cryptography allows senders and receivers to authenticate each other.
Difference between Steganography and Cryptography
The following table highlights the important differences between Steganography and Cryptography −
| Key | Steganography | Cryptography |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Steganography refers to Cover Writing. | Cryptography refers to Secret Writing. |
| Popularity | Steganography is less popular than Cryptography. | Cryptography is more popular than Steganography. |
| Integrity | Structure of data remains same. | Structure of data can be altered. |
| Attack | Attack in Steganography is termed as Steganalysis. | Attack in Cryptography is termed as Cryptanalysis. |
| Security Principles | Steganography supports Confidentiality and Authentication. | Cryptography supports Confidentiality, Authentication, Data integrity and Nonrepudiation. |
| Parameter | Steganography requires a parameter like key. | Cryptography may not need any key. |
Conclusion
The most important difference between Steganography and Cryptography is that the structure of data remains unchanged in steganography, which is not the case in cryptography. There aren't many mathematical transformations in steganography, whereas cryptography uses number theory, mathematics, and other techniques to alter the data.
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