A new Edge Detector Based on Parametric Surface Model: Regression Surface Descriptor

In this paper we present a new methodology for edge detection in digital images. The first originality of the proposed method is to consider image content as a parametric surface. Then, an original parametric local model of this surface representing image content is proposed. The few parameters involved in the proposed model are shown to be very sensitive to discontinuities in surface which correspond to edges in image content. This naturally leads to the design of an efficient edge detector. Moreover, a thorough analysis of the proposed model also allows us to explain how these parameters can be used to obtain edge descriptors such as orientations and curvatures. In practice, the proposed methodology offers two main advantages. First, it has high customization possibilities in order to be adjusted to a wide range of different problems, from coarse to fine scale edge detection. Second, it is very robust to blurring process and additive noise. Numerical results are presented to emphasis these properties and to confirm efficiency of the proposed method through a comparative study with other edge detectors.Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures and 2 table

Detecting covert communication channels in raster images

Digital image steganography is a method for hiding secret messages within everyday Internet communication channels. Such covert communications provide protection for communications and exploit the opportunities available in digital media. Digital image steganography makes the nature and content of a message invisible to other users by taking ordinary internet artefacts and using them as cover objects for the messages. In this paper we demonstrate the capability with raster image files and discuss the challenges of detecting such covert communications. The contribution of the research is community awareness of covert communication capability in digital media and the motivation for including such checks in any investigatory analysis

Statistical Detection of LSB Matching Using Hypothesis Testing Theory

This paper investigates the detection of information hidden by the Least Significant Bit (LSB) matching scheme. In a theoretical context of known image media parameters, two important results are presented. First, the use of hypothesis testing theory allows us to design the Most Powerful (MP) test. Second, a study of the MP test gives us the opportunity to analytically calculate its statistical performance in order to warrant a given probability of false-alarm. In practice when detecting LSB matching, the unknown image parameters have to be estimated. Based on the local estimator used in the Weighted Stego-image (WS) detector, a practical test is presented. A numerical comparison with state-of-the-art detectors shows the good performance of the proposed tests and highlights the relevance of the proposed methodology

Individual camera device identification from JPEG images

International audienceThe goal of this paper is to investigate the problem of source camera device identification for natural images in JPEG format. We propose an improved signal-dependent noise model describing the statistical distribution of pixels from a JPEG image. The noise model relies on the heteroscedastic noise parameters, that relates the variance of pixels’ noise with the expectation considered as unique fingerprints. It is also shown in the present paper that, non-linear response of pixels can be captured by characterizing the linear relation because those heteroscedastic parameters, which are used to identify source camera device. The identification problem is cast within the framework of hypothesis testing theory. In an ideal context where all model parameters are perfectly known, the Likelihood Ratio Test (LRT) is presented and its performance is theoretically established. The statistical performance of LRT serves as an upper bound of the detection power. In a practical identification, when the nuisance parameters are unknown, two generalized LRTs based on estimation of those parameters are established. Numerical results on simulated data and real natural images highlight the relevance of our proposed approach. While those results show a first positive proof of concept of the method, it still requires to be extended for a relevant comparison with PRNU-based approaches that benefit from years of experience

Détection statistique d'information cachée dans des images naturelles

La nécessité de communiquer de façon sécurisée n est pas chose nouvelle : depuis l antiquité des méthodes existent afin de dissimuler une communication. La cryptographie a permis de rendre un message inintelligible en le chiffrant, la stéganographie quant à elle permet de dissimuler le fait même qu un message est échangé. Cette thèse s inscrit dans le cadre du projet "Recherche d Informations Cachées" financé par l Agence Nationale de la Recherche, l Université de Technologie de Troyes a travaillé sur la modélisation mathématique d une image naturelle et à la mise en place de détecteurs d informations cachées dans les images. Ce mémoire propose d étudier la stéganalyse dans les images naturelles du point de vue de la décision statistique paramétrique. Dans les images JPEG, un détecteur basé sur la modélisation des coefficients DCT quantifiés est proposé et les calculs des probabilités du détecteur sont établis théoriquement. De plus, une étude du nombre moyen d effondrements apparaissant lors de l insertion avec les algorithmes F3 et F4 est proposée. Enfin, dans le cadre des images non compressées, les tests proposés sont optimaux sous certaines contraintes, une des difficultés surmontées étant le caractère quantifié des donnéesThe need of secure communication is not something new: from ancient, methods exist to conceal communication. Cryptography helped make unintelligible message using encryption, steganography can hide the fact that a message is exchanged.This thesis is part of the project "Hidden Information Research" funded by the National Research Agency, Troyes University of Technology worked on the mathematical modeling of a natural image and creating detectors of hidden information in digital pictures.This thesis proposes to study the steganalysis in natural images in terms of parametric statistical decision. In JPEG images, a detector based on the modeling of quantized DCT coefficients is proposed and calculations of probabilities of the detector are established theoretically. In addition, a study of the number of shrinkage occurring during embedding by F3 and F4 algorithms is proposed. Finally, for the uncompressed images, the proposed tests are optimal under certain constraints, a difficulty overcome is the data quantizationTROYES-SCD-UTT (103872102) / SudocSudocFranceF

A Cover Image Model For Reliable Steganalysis

International audienceThis paper investigates reliable steganalysis of natural cover images using a local non-linear parametric model. In the framework of hypothesis testing theory, the use of the model permits to warrant predictable results under false alarm constraint