A novel method for digital image steganography based on a new three-dimensional chaotic map

This paper, presents a novel chaos-based image steganography algorithm. Because of efficient property of chaos based security systems besides steganography applicability in providing secure communication, chaos based steganography algorithms served as a hot topic in recent researches. The proposed scheme possess novelties and advantageous such as: 1) Introducing a novel 3-dimensional chaotic map (LCA map) with strong chaotic characteristics and maximum Lyapunov exponent 20.58, which is used for generating three chaotic se- quences, each of them represents the number of row, column, and colour component, respectively. 2) Utilizing random selection procedure for selecting subsequences with length of 2L, which L is the length of secret message 3) Specifying L pairs of triples host positions for embedding LSBs and MSBs of secret message by using three high level chaotic maps. 4) Entering some parameters dependent on elementary initial values, host image, and secret message features as a key point for adding additional layer of security alongside providing high sensitivity. 5) Providing high capacity for embedding secret message, which is equal to 50 % of whole image capacity (M×N×12). The proposed method could be applied in different criterion such as, confidential communication and data storing, protection of data alteration, and etc. Our experimental results guarantees that our scheme is not only robust against differential attacks, but also has promising results such as highly sensitive keys, Quality index, PSNR, MSE, and hiding capacity as shown in statistical security analysis.