Warang Ashwini, Patankar Archana; International Journal of Advance Research, Ideas and Innovations in Technology. © 2017, www.IJARIIT.com All Rights Reserved Page | 1100 ISSN: 2454-132X Impact factor: 4.295 (Volume3, Issue3) Available online at www.ijariit.com QR Code Based Image Steganography Ashwini Warang Thadomal Shahani Engineering College a.mahajan1992@yahoo.com Dr. Archana Patankar Thadomal Shahani Engineering College Abstract: Image Steganography is the process of embedding secret data in images such that its existence cannot be detected by others apart from the sender and the receiver. The present work focuses on a combination of cryptography and steganography to secure the data while transmitting over the network. This paper presents image steganography using Block based Discrete Wavelet transform for embedding of the encoded secret message using Quick Response Code (QR) code into the image while embedding process is further protected by Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) cipher algorithm. The efficiency of the proposed method was measured by Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR). Keywords: Steganography, DWT, QR code, AES, Payload, PSNR. I. INTRODUCTION Steganography is the art and science of hiding the existence of the communication, i.e., it hides the secret message inside the other medium like images, audio, video, text, etc. It is defined as the process of writing messages in a way in which the presence of a secret message is not known to anyone apart from sender and receiver. The paper present how QR Codes (commonly known as ‘Quick Respond Codes’) used in the field of Cryptography. QR Codes are mainly used to convey or store messages because they have higher or large storage capacity than any other normal barcodes. The paper describes how QR Code is used for image steganography. Since QR Codes have a fast response time and have large storage capacity, QR Codes can be used perfectly to send encrypted data (messages) to the receiver. The block based DWT algorithm is used for the steganography and additional security is achieved by applying AES cryptography to the QR code before embedding it into the cover image. II. LITERATURE REVIEW In this section, the works carried out by various researchers are as follows: Vladimír Hajduk, Martin Broda, Ondrej Ková, Dušan Levický has focused on the proposal of image steganography method that is able to the embedding of the encoded secret message using Quick Response Code (QR) code into image data [1]. Akshara Gaikwad, K.R.Singh has proposed embedding methods for the use of halftoning method to distribute the modified pixels of QR code which is to be embedded into a color image, so that it should not be visible to naked eye on the color image. This paper aims at explaining QR code structure, the different patterns involved in a QR code image, the basic steps of information hiding using QR code, QR code embedding in color images and basic steps of QR decoding process [2]. Hamad A. Al-Korbi, Ali Al-Ataby, Majid A. Al-Taee and Waleed Al-Nuaimy have introduced Wavelet transform. The Haar DWT is used in the proposed steganography technique. It is the simplest transform in wavelet mathematics because it uses square pulses to approximate the original function [3]. Manoj S. Rewatkar and Shital A. Raut also introduces the paper which presents the survey on information hiding techniques which can share high-security information over a network using QR barcode. They have also proposed the structure, feature and information hiding process in QR code [5]. B. Padmavathi, S. Ranjitha Kumari have proposed three encryption algorithm i.e. DES, AES, and RSA. Also, they have compared DES, AES and RSA encryption technique based on different parameters such as performance, scalability, speed etc. to encrypt a data or document [7].