Stealth Messenger

A steganography tool for embedding secret text or files into images
with optional AES-256 encryption and compression.

Features

• Dual Embedding Modes - Hide text messages or entire files within PNG images
• AES-256 Encryption - Optional password protection with PBKDF2 key derivation (480k iterations)
• Smart Compression - Zlib compression to maximize storage capacity
• Auto-Detection - Extraction automatically detects bit depth, compression, and encryption settings
• Adjustable Bit Depth - Trade-off between capacity (1-8 bits per channel) and detection resistance
• Real-time Capacity Display - See available space as you compose your message
• Resolution Adaptive - UI scales automatically to different screen sizes

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Installation

pip install customtkinter pillow

# Optional: Enable encryption support
pip install cryptography

Usage

python StealthMessenger.py

Encoding: Select a cover image → Enter message or choose file → Configure options → Embed → Save

Decoding: Select encoded image → Enter password (if encrypted) → Extract → Save

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Technical Specifications

Capacity vs. Stealth

Bit Depth	Relative Capacity	Detection Risk
1-2 bits	Low-Medium	Minimal
3-4 bits	High	Low
5-8 bits	Maximum	Moderate-High

Data Format

[Signature: 7B] [Header: 4B] [Payload: Variable] [Terminator: 4B]

Header: Version | Bit Depth | Flags | Type
Flags:  Bit 0 = Compressed, Bit 1 = Encrypted
Type:   0x00 = Text, 0x01 = File

Storage Capacity

A 1920×1080 image at 2-bit depth provides approximately 1.5 MB of usable storage.

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Dependencies

Package	Purpose	Required
customtkinter	UI framework	Yes
pillow	Image processing	Yes
cryptography	AES encryption	Optional

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Notes

• Always save as PNG - JPEG compression destroys embedded data
• Encrypted data cannot be recovered without the correct password
• Temporary files are automatically cleaned up on application exit

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_{Semester Project - Advanced Steganography Implementation
Spring 2025}