Multichannel Steganography: A Provably Secure Hybrid Steganographic Model for Secure Communication

Abstract: This study introduces a novel steganographic model that synthesizes Steganography by Cover Modification (CMO) and Steganography by Cover Synthesis (CSY), enhancing both security and undetectability by generating cover messages or parameters while retaining the original cover's form, thus minimizing detection risks and overcoming the limitations of single-method techniques. Building upon this model, a refined Steganographic Communication Protocol is proposed, enhancing resilience against sophisticated threats such as Multichannel Replay Attacks and Multichannel Man-in-the-Middle Attacks, fortifying the protocol against potential tampering and improving upon prior works. To evaluate the security of the proposed protocol, a novel adversarial model is developed simulating a probabilistic polynomial time (PPT) adversary capable of intercepting communications across multiple channels. This model assesses the adversary's ability to compromise the protocol, providing a comprehensive security analysis. Finally, this study explores the practicality and adaptability of the model to both constrained environments like SMS banking and resource-rich settings such as blockchain transactions, demonstrating their potential to enhance financial services and security. These contributions present a robust and adaptable framework for secure steganographic communication, offering practical solutions for secure communications across diverse environments.