How to Start Stenography Projects Using NS3

To start a steganography project using NS3, it has contains to replicate the embedding and detection of hidden data in network traffic. In networking, steganography normally includes embedding secret information in packet payloads, headers, or timing patterns. This project type can utilize to know about covert communication channels and experiment detection methods. We will walk you through the given approach to configuring and executing steganography simulations in NS3.

Steps to Start Steganography Projects in NS3

  1. Define Project Objectives and Scope
  • Identify Steganography Use Cases:
    • Payload-Based Steganography: We implant hidden data in the packet payload.
    • Header-Based Steganography: Change the packet headers such as TTL, IP identification field to secretly encrypt data.
    • Timing-Based Steganography: Fine-tune the timing of packet transmissions encrypting data like inter-packet delays.
    • Traffic Pattern-Based Steganography: Make data patterns or sequences, which denote the concealed data.
  • Define Key Performance Metrics:
    • Detection Rate: We can estimate the detecting hidden data efficiency in network traffic.
    • Throughput and Latency Impact: Estimate how implanting hidden data impacts the network performance.
    • Steganographic Capacity: Compute the volume of data, which can be concealed without detection.
    • Robustness and Security: Experiment how successfully the hidden data endures the detection efforts and packet inspection.
  1. Install and Set Up NS3
  • Download NS3: Go to official NS3 webpage and then download new version of NS3 on the system.
  • Install NS3: We adhere to installation guide and check with instance scripts.
  • External Libraries (Optional): Utilize libraries such as Python’s steganography library or OpenCV (if image-based methods are needed) for data encoding.
  1. Design the Network Topology
  • Select a Network Layout:
    • Simple Client-Server: Mimic a direct connection among two nodes in which one transmits hidden information and the other nodes are obtains and decodes it.
    • Multi-Client to Server: Configure several clients to transmit steganographic information to a single server, to design the hidden interaction channels in larger traffic.
    • Router-Based Forwarding: To seize and examining information utilising a router like an intermediate node since it sends hidden data.
  • Configure Nodes and Devices:
    • Make nodes to denote the clients, servers, and routers using NodeContainer.
    • For wired connections utilize CsmaHelper or WifiHelper for wireless connections according to the project’s requirements.
  1. Implement Steganography in Network Traffic
  • Payload-Based Steganography:
    • Change packet payloads containing hidden messages.
    • We need to execute encoding functions, which add small amounts of data into certain sections of the payload like unused or padded sections.
  • Header-Based Steganography:
    • Implant hidden data within packet headers like IP identification, sequence numbers, or TTL values.
    • Modify packet headers using NS3’s Header class and save hidden information bits without modifying the intended function of packet.
  • Timing-Based Steganography:
    • Control the timing among the packets encrypting information within inter-packet delays.
    • In NS3, we execute a scheduler which transmits packets including accurate intervals that denote the binary data such as long delay = 1, short delay = 0.
  • Traffic Pattern-Based Steganography:
    • To model certain traffic patterns like modifying packet sizes or sequences which indicate encoded information.
    • Make traffic bursts using OnOffApplication or configure certain intervals among the packets replicating traffic patterns with hidden data.
  1. Implement Data Encoding and Decoding Functions
  • Data Embedding (Sender-Side):
    • Make a function, which receives a message and encodes it by means of bits embedded within the packet payload or header.
    • For timing-based techniques, program packet transmits with diverse delays, which denote the encoded bits.
  • Data Extraction (Receiver-Side):
    • Make a function, which takes packets and extricates bits from payloads, headers, or timing data.
    • Rebuild the hidden message by integrating extracted bits from several packets.
  1. Develop Steganography Detection Mechanisms
  • Packet Inspection:
    • For unusual patterns, we examine packet headers and payloads, which could show hidden data like consistent modification within header fields such as IP ID or TTL.
    • Record packets utilising NS3’s tracing tools, then examine logs identifying deviations from expected values.
  • Timing Analysis:
    • Log inter-packet arrival times and then verify for patterns or anomalies which may show timing-based steganography.
    • We want to execute statistical techniques like average delay, variance to identify suspicious timing intervals.
  • Traffic Pattern Detection:
    • We observe the traffic for regular or unusual patterns like varying packet sizes, which may specify encoded information.
    • If utilising machine learning then transfer packet data for analysis within Python or another environment categorizing patterns like typical or suspicious.
  1. Set Up Application Layer for Steganographic Traffic
  • Application for Hidden Data Transmission:
    • Implant hidden information using custom applications. For instance:
      • For simple request-response traffic utilise UdpEcho where the response takes hidden information.
      • OnOffApplication to make traffic including controlled packet intervals to signify timing-based encoding.
  • Legitimate Background Traffic:
    • From other applications, append background traffic creating the detection task more difficulty to replicate the real-world environments including mixed traffic.
  1. Define and Measure Performance Metrics
  • Detection Rate:
    • Measure the detection accuracy by monitoring true positives (detected hidden data) and false positives (normal data flagged as suspicious).
  • Throughput and Latency Impact:
    • Estimate how embedding or identifying hidden information impacts overall data transfer rates and response times.
  • Steganographic Capacity:
    • We need to observe the volume of hidden information, which can be embedded in each packet or over a stream of packets devoid of detection.
  • Robustness and Security:
    • Calculate how simply the hidden information can be identified or changes and to experiment the resilience of the steganographic technique versus detection mechanisms.
  1. Simulate and Analyze Results
  • Run Simulations:
    • Experiment diverse steganographic techniques in various network conditions, estimating the performance and detectability.
    • Mimic with and without detection mechanisms, equating the ability to identify hidden information.
  • Data Collection:
    • Accumulate packet data utilising NS3’s tracing tools on payloads, headers, and timing, storing logs for post-simulation analysis.
    • Transfer captured packets to Wireshark for physical analysis or to use Python for automated analysis.
  • Visualization:
    • Envision packet timings, header patterns, or throughput to utilize tools such as Matplotlib that supporting to examine steganographic methods and detection approaches efficiency.

Example Code Outline for Payload-Based Steganography in NS3

Following is a simple example of NS3, which illustrates embedding and extracting hidden information within packet payloads.

#include “ns3/core-module.h”

#include “ns3/network-module.h”

#include “ns3/internet-module.h”

#include “ns3/point-to-point-module.h”

#include “ns3/applications-module.h”

using namespace ns3;

class SteganographyApp : public Application {

public:

SteganographyApp() {}

virtual ~SteganographyApp() {}

void Setup(Ptr<Socket> socket, Address address, std::string hiddenMessage, uint32_t packetSize, DataRate dataRate) {

m_socket = socket;

m_peer = address;

m_hiddenMessage = hiddenMessage;

m_packetSize = packetSize;

m_dataRate = dataRate;

m_currentBit = 0;

}

private:

virtual void StartApplication(void) override {

m_socket->Connect(m_peer);

SendPacket();

}

void SendPacket() {

if (m_currentBit < m_hiddenMessage.size() * 8) {

Ptr<Packet> packet = CreateSteganographicPacket();

m_socket->Send(packet);

ScheduleTx();

}

}

Ptr<Packet> CreateSteganographicPacket() {

// Embed hidden data bit-by-bit into payload

uint8_t data = (m_hiddenMessage[m_currentBit / 8] >> (7 – m_currentBit % 8)) & 1;

m_currentBit++;

uint8_t buffer[m_packetSize];

memset(buffer, 0, m_packetSize);

buffer[m_packetSize – 1] = data; // Simple example: store bit in the last byte of payload

return Create<Packet>(buffer, m_packetSize);

}

void ScheduleTx() {

Time tNext(Seconds(m_packetSize * 8 / static_cast<double>(m_dataRate.GetBitRate())));

m_sendEvent = Simulator::Schedule(tNext, &SteganographyApp::SendPacket, this);

}

Ptr<Socket> m_socket;

Address m_peer;

std::string m_hiddenMessage;

uint32_t m_packetSize;

DataRate m_dataRate;

uint32_t m_currentBit;

EventId m_sendEvent;

};

int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {

NodeContainer nodes;

nodes.Create(2);

PointToPointHelper pointToPoint;

pointToPoint.SetDeviceAttribute(“DataRate”, StringValue(“5Mbps”));

pointToPoint.SetChannelAttribute(“Delay”, StringValue(“2ms”));

NetDeviceContainer devices;

devices = pointToPoint.Install(nodes);

InternetStackHelper stack;

stack.Install(nodes);

Ipv4AddressHelper address;

address.SetBase(“10.1.1.0”, “255.255.255.0”);

Ipv4InterfaceContainer interfaces = address.Assign(devices);

Ptr<Socket> senderSocket = Socket::CreateSocket(nodes.Get(0), UdpSocketFactory::GetTypeId());

std::string hiddenMessage = “Hello”; // Message to hide

Ptr<SteganographyApp> app = CreateObject<SteganographyApp>();

app->Setup(senderSocket, InetSocketAddress(interfaces.GetAddress(1), 8080), hiddenMessage, 1024, DataRate(“5Mbps”));

nodes.Get(0)->AddApplication(app);

app->SetStartTime(Seconds(1.0));

app->SetStopTime(Seconds(10.0));

Simulator::Run();

Simulator::Destroy();

return 0;

}

From this manual, we grasped more details on how to initiate, configure and simulate the Steganography projects through the above simulation approach in NS3 simulation tool. Furthermore, we will also be presented additional specifies regarding this topic in upcoming guide.

We undertake steganography projects utilizing the NS3 tool, providing scholars with tailored and impeccable documentation. If you aspire to attain excellence in your endeavors, allow our team to manage your tasks. Please contact us for further guidance. Rest assured, our fees are reasonable, and we ensure the completion of your work with high quality. You can depend on our experts to deliver your projects punctually.