App development for DNA based steganography with triple layers of security.

Project Title

App development for DNA based steganography with triple layers of security.

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil but data.  As the world moves closer to digitalization, Cyber-attacks are becoming more common. An attack on one should be considered an attack on all. More than 150 countries are affected by cyber-crimes. In Pakistan 68% of people use smartphones. Everything connected to the internet is at the risk of cyber-attack. We have taken the project idea from the F16 batch They developed an algorithm that was based on DNA Steganography. With modifications in the algorithm to improve its Strength and secrecy, we are going to convert it into our very own Product (a secret communication app). Nowadays communication is performed on the cloud-based system where data is stored on servers over the internet so that it can be easily shared with the relevant clients. To provide basic security of the system one should be confident about its CIA triad (where CIA stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability). In our app, the data stored on the server will be in encrypted form. Hence Confidentiality and Integrity will be provided from DNA based triple layer system.

We have initialized to develop Pakistan’s very own covert communication APP. According to our research, The Ministry of Information Technology has been working away on a secure messaging app that the Prime Minister, cabinet members, and other individuals working can use for secure communication. And it is still under 60% completion. While we have Developed the 3-layer Algorithm (namely DNA cryptography, DNA Steganography, and Image Steganography), And a basic chatting Application using Google firebase. Now the part remaining is the integration of the algorithm into our APP. and then lastly Integration of NLP based algorithms in the APP.

Additionally, we will be adding smart-assistance features into our app using NLP through these we will be adding features like auto-completion, Profanity detection (Avoidance of unethical usage of words during communication), and auto-prediction.

Fig 1 Conceptual design of Project

fig(1) images/'App development for DNA based steganography with triple layers of security. ' _1659395085.png

Project Objectives

The core objective of the project is to develop a covert communication APP.

Following are the segments of our project: -

• Analysis of Algorithm.
• Embedding Google firebase messaging.
• Development of basic app structure.
• Integration of encryption and decryption algorithm.
• Integration of NLP (National Language Processing).
• Testing, debugging, and deployment.

Project Implementation Method

Following is the workflow of the implementation of the project.

    

• Analysis of Algorithm: To study and improve the 3-layer DNA-based Algorithm.
• Embedding Google firebase messaging: Database maintenance and record (in encrypted form) of the users to provide secure communication over firebase.
• Development of basic app structure: To develop a basic chat application that facilitates users with 1-on-1 in public or private conversations.

                              

• Integration of encryption and decryption algorithm:  By integrating triple-layer algorithm in APP. This will provide a covert way through which messages will be exchanged between users. Messages over the internet will not only be in the form of encrypted form but they will be hidden in a cover file during transmission. 

                           

• Integration of NLP (National Language Processing): Integration NLP provides features like auto-completion, auto prediction, and smart assistance. It helps the user with text correction and auto-prediction.
• Testing, debugging, and deployment: To check the app step by step to verify the security (encryption, decryption techniques) and to identify the errors. If any error is detected then we debug it, remove the errors from the software, and after that, we do the process of deployment upload on a suitable platform from where users can easily take the APP and install it.

Benefits of the Project

Every day, we create roughly 2.5 quintillion bytes of data. and as the data is growing so are the cyber-attacks. This is the basic reason for the initialization of this project. The basic benefit of the project is at the end, we will be having our covert messaging application. So, the information produced by us will too be in our hands. This will make Pakistan safer from attacks in case of cold war affairs. In the end, we will accomplish two SDGs (SDG16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and  SDG8 Decent work Economic Growth).

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

In this project, the final product is a communication app like any other WhatsApp or messenger. But the difference between this app will be that it is being developed by us and this APP is eventually going to be the 1st Pakistan's very own secret communication Application. The algorithm is developed in Python3.9 (Pycharm IDE version 1.3) and for the android application, we have used Android studio (arctic fox 3.1) and the programming language used in JAVA(version11.0).

Following are the results of the Algorithm: -

The desktop application that I have developed for usage is shown below: -

The desktop application is developed just for the time being till the Android communication APP is launched. Through this desktop application, the user can easily encode/decode the message then they can share this encoded image with anyone on WhatsApp. The encryption/decryption mechanism is based on the same 3-Layers DNA-based Algorithm.  As soon as the Android application is completed then there will be not as much need for this desktop application. Till now, The University Teachers or admin can use this for secure communication. Even it can be used by any organization for secure communication.

Messaging Application result is: -

              

Final Deliverable of the Project Software SystemCore Industry SecurityOther Industries Telecommunication Core Technology Artificial Intelligence(AI)Other TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Decent Work and Economic Growth, Peace and Justice Strong InstitutionsRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	19000
lexaro SSD	Equipment	2	3500	7000
Laptop K.D	Equipment	2	1000	2000
4GB Does Pc3l	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Theses, poster and stationary	Miscellaneous	1	8000	8000