Slashdot Mirror
Evidence of Steganography in Real Criminal Cases
ancientribe writes "Researchers at Purdue University have found proof that criminals are making use of steganography in the field. Steganography is the stealth technique of hiding text or images within image files. Experts say that the wide availability of free point-and-click steganography tools is making the method of hiding illicit images and text easier to use. Not everyone is convinced; some security experts such as Bruce Schneier have dismissed steganography as too complex and conspicuous for the bad guys to bother using, especially for inside corporate espionage: 'It doesn't make sense that someone selling out the company can't just leave with a USB.'"
First, legislatures pass bullshit laws about cryptography despite warnings that they are going to be ineffective because of steganography. Now, they claim that the sky is falling because people are using it.
Right now, police can still detect the steganography tools, but those will start to be hidden as well. Encrypted, hidden data can be added to MP3s, MPEG4s, PDFs, scans, executables, random leftover noise on the disk. It can be hidden on microSD cards, printed on paper, and hidden on DVDs.
There is no way governments or companies can stop covert communications of data. Get over it and stop making laws that are unenforceable but give police and governments ever more tools to abuse their powers.