About This Steganography Playground
Overview:
This steganography tool allows you to hide secret messages or entire files within visible
text and carrier files (such as images or videos or other binaries). The tool employs advanced
techniques to cloak your data without drawing attention. You can also fetch Nostr event and
check if text includes hidden messages.
How It Works:
Everything performed by this tool happens entirely client-side, meaning your data never
leaves your device. The tool has two main functions: Text Steganography and File Steganography.
Text secrets are encoded as compact UTF-8 bytes using zero-width characters and appended invisibly to the visible message.
The versioned decoder also reads messages made with the earlier 32-bit format. Hidden files are encoded into Base64 and appended to carrier files using a unique marker.
Protecting a hidden message or file:
Steganography hides that a secret exists; encryption protects the secret if somebody finds it.
The optional protection field supports two different methods:
- Password: enter an ordinary password to encrypt the hidden text or file. The recipient must enter the same password to unlock it. Share the password separately from the carrier, and keep it safe because a forgotten password cannot be recovered.
-
Recipient npub: enter the recipient's public Nostr key beginning with
npub. The secret is encrypted for that Nostr identity, so only the owner of the matching private key can unlock it. Annpubis public and safe to share; it cannot decrypt the secret by itself.
To unlock an npub-protected secret, the recipient can choose Sign with Nostr
with a NIP-07 browser signer or Amber on Android, or choose Use bunker for a NIP-46 remote
signer. The signer authorizes NIP-44 decryption while keeping the private key inside the signer. Manually
entering an nsec or hexadecimal private key is available only as a discouraged fallback; it is
processed in this browser, cleared from the field after use, and is not saved. For hidden files, the file is
encrypted locally with a random key and only that key is locked to the recipient's npub.
Steganography Methods:
This tool leverages multiple steganography techniques and none of them is LSB (Least Significant Bit):
-
Two Zero-Width Characters Method (ZWNJ & ZWJ) – Encode & Decode:
Binary data is encoded using
\u200Cand\u200Dto represent bits 0 and 1 respectively. Used for plain text and emoji-based carrier messages. -
Three Zero-Width Characters Method (ZWSP, ZWNJ & ZWJ) – Decode-Only (Fallback):
Provides enhanced compatibility for decoding messages hidden with other tools using
\u200B,\u200C, and\u200D. - File Payload Embedding – Encode & Decode: Hides files or text data inside other files (like images or documents) by appending Base64-encoded payloads with a unique marker.
-
Emoji Steganography (Paul Butler’s Method) – Decode-Only:
Extracts hidden bytes from Unicode variation selectors embedded in emoji characters.
Based on Paul Butler’s emoji-encoder.
Note: This method currently supports decoding only.
File Hiding Capabilities:
You can hide images, text files, or any file type - each file is encoded (and optionally encrypted) before being appended to a carrier file.
However, please be aware that when you share images online, many social media platforms and websites automatically
compress or convert the file format. This process often reduces file size and standardizes formats, but it may also
remove additional data embedded within the file. In some cases, these platforms strip out metadata or extra hidden
information during upload. As a result, if your hidden data relies on being preserved exactly, it might be altered
or lost once shared on these sites.
Best Image Formats for Data and Text Embedding:
Lossless image formats are generally the best choice for embedding data, since they preserve every bit of the original
image without discarding information. PNG and TIFF are popular options because they maintain all data,
ensuring that your hidden information remains intact. Other lossless formats, like GIF, can also be used; however,
keep in mind that GIFs are limited to a 256-color palette, which may not be ideal if you require higher color fidelity or
have complex images. Additionally, formats like BMP or lossless modes of WebP might be considered, but
they often have compatibility issues or less efficient compression compared to PNG.
On the other hand, the vast majority of images on the internet—over 80%—are in the JPEG format. JPEG uses lossy
compression, which significantly reduces file size by discarding some image data. This efficiency is critical for storing
and transferring huge volumes of images (saving gazillions of terabytes of disk space), which is why it is so widely adopted.
However, because JPEG compression removes some data permanently, it is not ideal for embedding information that needs to be
preserved exactly. For preserving hidden data, a lossless format like PNG is usually recommended.
What is Nostr?
Nostr, short for “Notes and Other Stuff Transmitted by Relays,” is a permissionless, censorship-resistant, open-source
protocol (and much more...) designed to empower users and uphold the original principles of the internet: decentralization, freedom of expression,
and user control. Unlike traditional social networks like Twitter or Instagram, Nostr operates on a client-relay model,
eliminating centralized servers and giving users full ownership of their identity, data, audience and development on top of it.
Learn more about Nostr.
Nostr Integration:
The tool uses the Nostr protocol to fetch events and extract hidden messages directly from relays.
By entering a Nostr event ID (HEX, note1, nevent) and optionally relay URLs, the tool connects via WebSockets, fetches the event,
and displays both the original and hidden secret message hidden in the text or emoji.
When pasting in the nevent string the tool will automatically extract and use its relay hints.
Secrets in files are not available with this option. For testing purposes, you can use this event ID:
0001917b7176006a407f4c7d4a9b7408064fee7db0ad8a5b4f0f825bf0321b1b
or this one with an image where image contain a hidden message:
note1hxdpv5xcneu6vqacrfg4adjh5n7zvue284fdu64x20ezlh900cqsqpdrdj
Obfuscation & Cipher Tools
This tool allows you to apply a sequence of text transformations to hide, scramble, or encode messages.
You can combine multiple methods to produce complex and layered ciphers that resemble gibberish or random text,
and remain reversible when the copied method sequence is used.
The available methods include encoders/decoders for Base64, Base32, Base58,
Binary, and Morse Code, as well as a collection of custom-built text manipulation techniques like
Full Flip, Word Flip, Sentence Inverter, Readable Reverser, and
Scrambler.
These transformations can be stacked together, forming a custom "method sequence" that records the order in which each method was applied.
When you finish your transformation, you can copy this sequence in a versioned format like mSeq=v1:1,3,7.
Older sequences remain supported, and the tool can interpret formats such as 1,3,7, 1 3 7, 1.3.7,
or even 1 know a s3cre7, making it flexible for sharing and reuse.
The system also smartly detects incompatible methods and will guide you by disabling invalid options to prevent errors.
To decipher a message, provide the transformed text and the original copied method sequence. The tool reverses the steps automatically.
This restores the original text exactly as it was before.
Special Notes:
- Some methods are designed to preserve hidden data markers when used together with the steganography tool.
- Decoder methods validate their input and stop instead of silently dropping invalid characters.
- The system provides a visual "method history" bubble system, showing exactly which steps you applied.
- Future updates may introduce even more encoding and scrambling methods.
Visual effects after successful decoding:
If the decoding of files and messages is successful, you will receive visual feedback.
In some cases, such as when the message includes at the start of the message prefixes
like bitcoin:, cashu, lnbc, monero:, nostr: and others,
it will show a visual effect relevant to the message content. If no special prefixes are included, you'll only see sparkles.
If you have any special visual effects requests, please reach out to me.
Text Steganography
Encode a Hidden Message
Encoded Message
Decode a Hidden Message
Entering a Nostr private key here is highly discouraged. It is processed only in this browser and never saved. Prefer an external signer.
Decoded Output
File Steganography
Encode a secret in a file
Submit either text or a file for encoding, but not both at the same time. Only one object is allowed per submission.
Decode a Secret in a File
Entering a Nostr private key here is highly discouraged. It is processed only in this browser and never saved. Prefer an external signer.
Decoded Hidden Text (if applicable) will show here:
Nostr Event Stego Fetcher
Entering a Nostr private key here is highly discouraged. It is processed only in this browser and never saved. Prefer an external signer.
Cipher & Transformation Tools
Download Stego for local use. View this file's source on GitHub.