YouSkyde: Information Hiding for Skype Video Traffic

TL;DR

This paper introduces YouSkyde, a novel steganographic method for Skype video calls that embeds hidden data by intentionally causing packet losses, achieving high bandwidth with minimal impact on quality and high undetectability.

Contribution

The paper presents a new information hiding technique for Skype video traffic that leverages intentional packet losses, with a proof-of-concept implementation demonstrating its feasibility and effectiveness.

Findings

Steganographic bandwidth up to 0.93 kbps achieved.

Negligible impact on video quality observed.

High undetectability of the hidden communication.

Abstract

In this paper a new information hiding method for Skype videoconference calls - YouSkyde - is introduced. A Skype traffic analysis revealed that introducing intentional losses into the Skype video traffic stream to provide the means for clandestine communication is the most favourable solution. A YouSkyde proof-of-concept implementation was carried out and its experimental evaluation is presented. The results obtained prove that the proposed method is feasible and offer a steganographic bandwidth as high as 0.93 kbps, while introducing negligible distortions into transmission quality and providing high undetectability.