How to Start Steganography Projects Using NS2

To start steganography within NS2 environment that can conceal data in digital information like network packets, images, or audio files, making sure that covert interaction. We will need to replicate the steganography mechanisms within networking by means of inserting the hidden messages within network packets or replicating covert interaction channels in NS2. Following is a sequential method to get started steganography project in NS2:

Steps to Start Steganography Projects in NS2

  1. Understand Steganography Concepts
  • Network Steganography: It encompasses to insert secret data in the network traffic. For instance:
    • Inserting information within unused bits of packet headers.
    • Fine-tuning packet timing or sequences.
    • To conceal data in payloads.
  • Following is a general mechanisms of steganography:
    • Protocol steganography utilising TCP/IP headers.
    • Packet timing steganography.
    • LSB (Least Significant Bit) encoding.

Describe the project’s goals like:

  • Inserting concealed messages within network traffic.
  • To identify the steganographic interaction.
  • Estimating the performance parameters such as latency, throughput, and so on, in steganographic traffic.
  1. Set Up NS2
  1. Install NS2:
    • We can set up NS2 using NS2.35 version on a Linux-based system for better outcomes.
  2. Verify Installation:
    • Execute a basic simulation, making sure that NS2 is functioning properly.
  3. Optional Enhancements:
    • Examine the packet-level changes to apply Wireshark tools in the course of simulations.
  1. Define Your Steganography Project Objective

Decide on a certain problem or project objective:

  • Covert Communication Simulation:
    • We need to execute the hidden interaction channels for simulation.
  • Steganographic Detection:
    • Mimic and identify the convert data within packets.
  • Payload-based Steganography:
    • Insert and obtain the concealed messages within packet payloads of steganography.
  1. Create a Network Simulation Script

Fine-tune NS2 TCL script for replicating steganographic traffic.

Example: Embedding Data in Packet Headers

  1. Define Network Topology:
    • We can create a network topology including nodes and links:

set ns [new Simulator]

set n1 [$ns node]

set n2 [$ns node]

$ns duplex-link $n1 $n2 1Mb 10ms DropTail

  1. Simulate Steganographic Embedding:
    • Change packet headers with embedding hidden data as pseudo in steganography:

proc embed_hidden_message {packet message} {

# Append hidden message to the packet

set hidden [string append $packet $message]

return $hidden

}

  1. Simulate Extraction:
    • We need to obtain the hidden messages at the receiver:

proc extract_hidden_message {packet} {

# Extract message from the packet

set hidden [string range $packet end-4 end]

return $hidden

}

  1. Log Steganographic Data:
    • Record embedded and extorted messages for data analysis:

set tracefile [open stego-trace.tr w]

$ns trace-all $tracefile

  1. Extend NS2 with Custom Modules

We can customize source code of NS2 within C++ for more advanced steganographic mechanisms:

  • Prolong the transport layer (TCP/UDP) for replicating the data embedding.
  • For steganographic information, fine-tune the packet structure with hidden areas.
  • Example: Integrate a hidden payload field using hdr_tcp structure.

Steps:

  1. Edit Packet Headers:
    • Change packet headers using ns-allinone-2.35/ns-2.35/common/packet.h with a concealed message field.

struct hdr_hidden {

char hidden_data[100]; // Hidden message

static int offset_hidden;

};

  1. Implement Steganographic Logic:
    • Inscribe functions to insert and obtain the hidden messages to utilise tcp.cc or udp.cc.
  2. Recompile NS2:

make clean

make

  1. Simulate and Analyze Results
  1. Run the Simulation:
    • We can run the TCL script simulation:

ns stego_script.tcl

  1. Analyze Trace Files:
    • Extort and authorize the steganographic information from the trace file:

awk ‘{ if ($2 ~ /hidden/) print $0 }’ stego-trace.tr

  1. Measure Performance Metrics:
    • We can estimate the steganography effect on performance parameters such as:
      • Packet delivery ratio (PDR)
      • Throughput
      • Latency
  1. Visualize Using NAM

Monitor the packet flow and steganographic interaction to apply Network Animator (NAM).

  1. Explore Advanced Steganographic Techniques
  • Dynamic Steganography:
    • According to the traffic models, we can insert data in dynamic steganography.
  • Protocol Steganography:
    • In TCP/IP headers we will need to utilise unused fields for concealing information.
  • Timing-based Steganography:
    • Modify packet transmission times for encrypting hidden data.
  1. Document Your Work

It offers clear report or documentation of steganography projects that contains:

  1. Projects goals and problem definition.
  2. Network topology and simulation specifics.
  3. Steganography mechanisms and execution.
  4. Outcomes and analysis.
  5. Insights and future guidance.
  1. Example Project Ideas
  1. Payload-Based Steganography:
    • In UDP packet payloads, insert messages and rebuild them at the receiver.
  2. Header-Based Steganography:
    • We will conceal information within IP/TCP header fields.
  3. Covert Channel Simulation:
    • Replicate the covert interaction channel under high-traffic networks.
  4. Steganography in IoT Networks:
    • Conceal sensor information within IoT device networks interactions.
  5. Detection of Steganographic Traffic:
    • Mimic and examine the network traffic for identifying anomalies that are trigged by hidden information.

By leveraging NS2 simulation environment, we were able to perform a detailed simulation of Steganography Projects. If you have any concerns or queries, we will be addressed in another manual.