Covert Communication with Authentication via Software Programs Using Invisible ASCII Codes --- A New Approach

Abstract

A new covert communication method by hiding messages in source programs is proposed. Each binary message, after being encoded by certain ASCII codes and inserted at specific C++ program locations, becomes invisible in the source code editors of Visual C++ and C++ Builder under Windows OS environments, creating an effect of steganography. A scheme for tamper-proof authentication of the embedded message has also been proposed. Experimental results show the feasibility of the proposed method.