A cybersecurity expert obsessed with feudal Japan developed message hiding techniques based on ancient ninja scrolls. The system vanished without a trace, leaving only invisible ink documentation and messages that appear blank but contain complete specifications. Implement steganographic encoding that hides secret messages within innocent-looking content using subtle modifications, positioning, and formatting tricks that would make ancient spies proud. Your task: Smuggle information past surveillance using ninja-grade steganography where every space, tab, and line break could be carrying classified intel.
Why You're Doing This
This tests string manipulation, pattern recognition, and encoding algorithms. You're building steganography—hiding data in plain sight. It combines text processing, character encoding, and creative algorithm design for covert communication.
Take the W
✓ Successfully hides secret message in cover content
✓ Cover content remains readable and natural-looking
✓ Hidden message can be extracted reliably
Hard L
✗ Secret message visible to casual observation
✗ Cover content becomes obviously corrupted or unnatural
✗ Encoding fails with special characters or edge cases
Edge Cases
⚠ Secret message longer than cover text encoding capacity
⚠ Cover text with existing capitalization patterns
⚠ Unicode characters in secret or cover text
⚠ Empty secret messages or insufficient cover text
Input Format:
Cover text and secret message requiring steganographic concealment
Expected Output:
Natural-looking text with hidden message encoded invisibly
Example:
Cover: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog. Secret: HELP → THe quIck browN fox jumPs over the lazy dog.
Input Format:
text_processing_system with steganographic_encoding_requirements and detection_avoidance
Expected Output:
encoded_output with natural_appearance_validation and extraction_verification
Example:
{"cover_text":"The quick brown fox jumps","secret_message":"HELP","encoding":"capitalization"} → {"encoded":"THe quIck browN fox jumPs","appearance":"natural","extractable":"verified"}