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@article{205848,
        author = {Tejaswi Pandurang Pasalkar and Sakshi Balasaheb Wagh and Swapnali Santosh Shinde},
        title = {"An Integrated Cryptography- Steganography Model for Confidential Data Transmission with Compression and Forensic Detection"},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {13},
        number = {1},
        pages = {8739-8743},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=205848},
        abstract = {Secure communication over open networks requires both confidentiality and concealment to prevent unauthorized access and detection. This paper presents a multi-layer secure communication framework that integrates cryptographic encryption, image steganography, and forensic analysis. The system employs AES-based encryption using the Fernet module, enhanced with password-based key derivation (PBKDF2) to strengthen key security. Prior to encryption, the plaintext message is compressed to improve embedding efficiency.  The encrypted payload is embedded into digital images using an optimized Least Significant Bit (LSB) technique implemented with NumPy for high performance and minimal distortion. A user-friendly interface developed using Streamlit enables secure message transmission and retrieval. Additionally, a forensic analysis module is incorporated to detect hidden data using LSB visualization and histogram analysis. Experimental evaluation demonstrates high imperceptibility, accurate data recovery, and strong resistance to unauthorized access. The proposed system provides a practical and efficient solution for secure and covert digital communication.},
        keywords = {Steganography, Cryptography, AES, LSB, PBKDF2, Data Security, Steganalysis},
        month = {June},
        }