Enhancing Image Steganography with Deep Learning and Cryptographic QR Code Embedding

Enhancing Image Steganography with Deep Learning and Cryptographic QR Code Embedding | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Enhancing Image Steganography with Deep Learning and Cryptographic QR Code Embedding Yaser Ghahremani, Om-Kolsoom Shahryari, Vafa Maihami This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7340030/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Steganography in images refers to the art and science of concealing data within digital images. This technique enables embedding messages or sensitive information into an image file in such a way that their presence is imperceptible to an ordinary observer. Various steganography methods aim to securely embed the maximum amount of confidential information within the carrier image, while ensuring that the quality of the steganographic image does not significantly degrade and remains imperceptible to the human visual system. This study proposes a high-capacity image steganography method leveraging deep learning techniques. The model employs multiple encoding mechanisms to encode text data, which is subsequently encrypted into a QR code to enhance security. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is utilized to determine optimal parameter ratios for embedding the QR code into the carrier image. The steganography process is further refined using discrete cosine transform (DCT). Additionally, a wavelet compression technique is applied to reduce the volume of the stego image while preserving the embedded data. This method enhances the image's resistance to tracking attacks while preventing any damage to the confidential information hidden within the carrier image. Finally, the Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) neural network, combined with evaluation metrics such as MSE, RMSE, PSNR, SSIM, and payload capacity, is employed to assess the accuracy of the proposed method during stego image formation. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method achieves a high accuracy rate of 99.69% in embedding barcode encryption within images. Deep learning steganography Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) neural network convolution neural network (CNN) encoding barcode Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviewers agreed at journal 10 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 10 Feb, 2026 Editor invited by journal 24 Oct, 2025 First submitted to journal 10 Aug, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7340030","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":588890524,"identity":"736156cf-f369-45f3-a54b-caaf157f4a92","order_by":0,"name":"Yaser Ghahremani","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8317-6582","institution":"Islamic Azad University Sanandaj Branch","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yaser","middleName":"","lastName":"Ghahremani","suffix":""},{"id":588890525,"identity":"2c1f523e-2208-4e6b-8eae-6a8c8721e913","order_by":1,"name":"Om-Kolsoom Shahryari","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Islamic Azad University Sanandaj Branch","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Om-Kolsoom","middleName":"","lastName":"Shahryari","suffix":""},{"id":588890526,"identity":"df834adf-b7ae-42b7-8cf1-e8858bf2984d","order_by":2,"name":"Vafa Maihami","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Islamic Azad University Sanandaj Branch","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Vafa","middleName":"","lastName":"Maihami","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-10 16:32:08","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7340030/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7340030/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102747118,"identity":"68fe8b3c-137b-4741-8938-5a01c85bd000","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-16 09:03:52","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1119208,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"YaserGhahremaniSteganography1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7340030/v1_covered_68fd8fc9-918a-4138-9e45-af9a5491b90b.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"Enhancing Image Steganography with Deep Learning and Cryptographic QR Code Embedding","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"soft-computing","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"soco","sideBox":"Learn more about [Soft Computing](https://www.springer.com/journal/500)","snPcode":"500","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/500/3","title":"Soft Computing","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"Springer Hybrid","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Deep learning, steganography, Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH) neural network, convolution neural network (CNN), encoding, barcode","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7340030/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7340030/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"Steganography in images refers to the art and science of concealing data within digital images. 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