Data Hiding Techniques in Windows OS

Data Hiding Techniques in Windows OS

by Nihad Ahmad Hassan, Rami Hijazi
Released September 2016
Publisher(s): Syngress
ISBN: 9780128044964

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Book description

  • "This unique book delves down into the capabilities of hiding and obscuring data object within the Windows Operating System. However, one of the most noticeable and credible features of this publication is, it takes the reader from the very basics and background of data hiding techniques, and run’s on the reading-road to arrive at some of the more complex methodologies employed for concealing data object from the human eye and/or the investigation. As a practitioner in the Digital Age, I can see this book siting on the shelves of Cyber Security Professionals, and those working in the world of Digital Forensics – it is a recommended read, and is in my opinion a very valuable asset to those who are interested in the landscape of unknown unknowns. This is a book which may well help to discover more about that which is not in immediate view of the onlooker, and open up the mind to expand its imagination beyond its accepted limitations of known knowns." - John Walker, CSIRT/SOC/Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist
  • Featured in Digital Forensics Magazine, February 2017

In the digital world, the need to protect online communications increase as the technology behind it evolves. There are many techniques currently available to encrypt and secure our communication channels. Data hiding techniques can take data confidentiality to a new level as we can hide our secret messages in ordinary, honest-looking data files.

Steganography is the science of hiding data. It has several categorizations, and each type has its own techniques in hiding. Steganography has played a vital role in secret communication during wars since the dawn of history. In recent days, few computer users successfully manage to exploit their Windows® machine to conceal their private data.

Businesses also have deep concerns about misusing data hiding techniques. Many employers are amazed at how easily their valuable information can get out of their company walls. In many legal cases a disgruntled employee would successfully steal company private data despite all security measures implemented using simple digital hiding techniques.

Human right activists who live in countries controlled by oppressive regimes need ways to smuggle their online communications without attracting surveillance monitoring systems, continuously scan in/out internet traffic for interesting keywords and other artifacts. The same applies to journalists and whistleblowers all over the world.

Computer forensic investigators, law enforcements officers, intelligence services and IT security professionals need a guide to tell them where criminals can conceal their data in Windows® OS & multimedia files and how they can discover concealed data quickly and retrieve it in a forensic way.

Data Hiding Techniques in Windows OS is a response to all these concerns. Data hiding topics are usually approached in most books using an academic method, with long math equations about how each hiding technique algorithm works behind the scene, and are usually targeted at people who work in the academic arenas. This book teaches professionals and end users alike how they can hide their data and discover the hidden ones using a variety of ways under the most commonly used operating system on earth, Windows®.

Table of contents

  1. Cover image
  2. Title page
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Biography
  7. Preface
  8. Acknowledgments
  9. Chapter 1. Introduction and Historical Background
    1. Introduction
    2. Classical Cipher Types
    3. Modern Cryptography Systems
    4. Steganography
    5. Watermarking
    6. Anonymity
    7. Summary
  10. Chapter 2. Data Hiding Using Simple Methods
    1. Introduction
    2. Bit-Shifting Data Hiding
    3. Hiding Data Inside Rich Text Format Documents
    4. Renaming Files
    5. Hiding Data in Compressed Files
    6. Hiding Data Through File Splitting
    7. Hiding Data in Microsoft® Office Documents
    8. Data Hiding Inside Image Attributes (Image Metadata)
    9. Summary
  11. Chapter 3. Data Hiding Using Steganographic Techniques
    1. Introduction
    2. Text Steganography
    3. Image Steganography
    4. Data Hiding Inside Audio Files
    5. Data Hiding Using Other Digital Media Types
    6. Summary
  12. Chapter 4. Data Hiding Under Windows® OS File Structure
    1. Introduction
    2. Data Hiding Using Alternate Data Stream
    3. Data Hiding Using Stealth Alternate Data Stream
    4. Hiding Data Inside Windows® Restoration Points
    5. Hiding Data Inside Windows® Registry
    6. Hiding in a File’s Slack Space
    7. Hidden Partitions
    8. Data Hiding Within Master File Table
    9. Data Hiding in Disk Bad Blocks
    10. Data Hiding Under Computer Hardware Level
    11. Summary
  13. Chapter 5. Data Hiding Using Encryption Techniques
    1. Introduction
    2. Security Awareness Corners
    3. Anonymous Operating System
    4. Disk Encryption
    5. Anonymize Your Location Online
    6. Encrypting Email Communications
    7. Encrypt Instant Messaging, Video Calls, and VOIP Sessions
    8. Create and Maintain Secure Passwords
    9. Miscellaneous Security Hints and Best Practices
    10. Summary
  14. Chapter 6. Data Hiding Forensics
    1. Introduction
    2. Understanding Computer Forensics
    3. Steganalysis
    4. Steganalysis of Digital Media Files
    5. Windows Forensics
    6. Summary
  15. Chapter 7. Antiforensic Techniques
    1. Introduction
    2. Antiforensics Goals
    3. Data Hiding General Advice
    4. Data Destruction
    5. Windows Antiforensics Techniques
    6. Clearing Digital Footprints
    7. Direct Attack Against Forensic Software
    8. Summary
  16. Chapter 8. Future Trends
    1. Introduction
    2. The Future of Encryption
    3. Data Stored in Cloud Computing
    4. Virtualization Technology
    5. Data Hiding in Enterprise Networks
    6. Streaming Protocols
    7. Wireless Networks and Future Networking Protocols
    8. Data Hiding in Mobile Devices
    9. Anonymous Networks
    10. Summary
  17. Index

Product information

  • Title: Data Hiding Techniques in Windows OS
  • Author(s): Nihad Ahmad Hassan, Rami Hijazi
  • Release date: September 2016
  • Publisher(s): Syngress
  • ISBN: 9780128044964