The procedure that allows you to hide a data file within an image is called Steganography. It is a technique by which it is possible to share information over the internet without having to use any data encryption protocol. What really needs to be done is simply to bind the data file (what we secretly want to send to our recipient) to the image file. The first element will thus be hidden inside the second, resulting in fact protected from prying eyes, while the file relating to the image will continue to function normally as it should. In this way, even in the scenario where someone managed to have access to the network and to the image in which we have hidden the data file, they would still not be able to trace it back, unless they know exactly how this element was created. Read on to find out how to use this cloaking mechanism.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Hiding the Data File in the Image
Step 1. Create a new folder anywhere on your computer
For example, start by creating the following directory: "D: / New_Folder".
Step 2. Select all the files you want to hide and use them to create a compressed archive using WinZip or WinRar
For example, let's assume we create the "womb.rar" archive.
Step 3. Select the image file to use as a container for the compressed "womb.rar" file
For example use the file "ppp.jpg".
Step 4. Now move the "ppp.jpg" and "womb.rar" files into the new folder you created in the first step
Step 5. Open the Windows "Command Prompt"
Press the key combination "Windows + R", type the command "cmd" (without quotes) and press the "Enter" key on your keyboard.
Step 6. Inside the "Command Prompt" window type the sequence of commands needed to access the folder that contains the "ppp.jpg" and "womb.rar" files
Type the command "cd [full_path_folder]". In our example you will have to write
cd D: / New_Folder
and press the "Enter" key.
Step 7. Now type the following command into the "Command Prompt" with utmost attention:
copy / b ppp.jpg + womb.rar ppp.jpg
Step 8. Finished
If all went as expected, the "womb.rar" file that contains all the information you want to hide has been integrated into the "ppp.jpg" image file.
Part 2 of 2: Accessing Hidden Information
Step 1. The "ppp.jpg" file is an image in JPEG format
For this reason, the properties and functioning of this element will remain unchanged. In other words, it will continue to behave like any JPEG file. However inside it will be present the compressed archive "womb.rar".
Step 2. There are two methods to extract the data file from that of the selected image:
- First method: select the "ppp.jpg" file with the right mouse button and choose the "Open with winrar" option from the context menu that appeared. The user who will perform this procedure will see the "womb.rar" file appear in the WinRar window. At this point it is sufficient to simply decompress the archive to have access to the data it contains.
- Second method: change the file extension "ppp.jpg" to "ppp.rar", then select it with a double click of the mouse to open it normally. Also in this case the "womb.rar" file will be displayed inside the WinRar window. Now you simply need to unzip the "womb.rar" archive to have access to the data it contains.
