Peer-reviewedIn this paper, several steganalytic techniques designed to detect the existence of hidden messages using histogram shifting schemes are presented. Firstly, three techniques to identify specific histogram shifting data hiding schemes, based on detectable visible alterations on the histogram or abnormal statistical distributions, are suggested. Afterwards, a general technique capable of detecting all the analyzed histogram shifting data hiding methods is suggested. This technique is based on the effect of histogram shifting methods on the ¿volatility¿ of the histogram of the difference image. The different behavior of volatility whenever new data are hidden makes it possible to identify stego and cover images
