An image data hiding technique using Differential Evolution

The techniques of data hiding have turned out to be one of the prominent factors to ensure security and confidentiality of the communication network adopting untrustworthy and insecure means to transfer delicate information. This paper proposes a novel watermarking scheme that has used Differential Evolution(DE) optimization algorithm to efficiently hide data. The key factors of any watermarking scheme are imperceptibility and robustness. The present work has tried to gain the relevant degree of optimization between these two disagreeable factors by using the optimization technique of DE. The novelty of this paper lies in: (i) the proposed method applies DE on the pixel intensities of host image to locate the cognitively insignificant regions, (ii) the scaling factor of DE is so chosen, that when the same mathematical value of scaling factor is applied to embed watermark, it can keep the trade-off between imperceptibility and robustness. The resultant covert regions are capable to uphold a high level of transparency and are robust enough to survive against attacks. The method is carried out in the spatial domain. Experimental output depicts that the proposed method maintains competent image quality. Nevertheless, the watermark can still be recognized after various attacks even if it is distorted by a significant amount.