ABSTRACT
To illustrate Listega, consider the following scenario. Bob and Alice are on a spy mission. Bob and Alice run an online business similar to
craigslist.org or yahoo.com to buy and sell items such as books, computer parts, music CDs, and movie DVDs. Before they go on their mission, which requires them to reside in two different countries, they plot a strategic plan and set the rules for communicating covertly using their online business as a steganographic umbrella. ey agree on concealing messages in a list of items by naturally manipulating and fabricating this list in which they will embed data in such a way that the text cover (list cover) seems innocent. To make their plan work, Bob and Alice have the right to post or email the list cover (e.g., a list of books, computer parts, music CDs, or movie DVDs) to customers. In addition, Bob and Alice have the right to do business with each other, such as buying and selling, which legitimizes communications between them and enables them to deliver the list cover in an unsuspicious way. Covert messages transmitted in this manner will not look suspicious because of the legitimate relationship between Bob and Alice. Furthermore, Alice is not the sole recipient of Bob’s list and vice versa. In addition, other non-spy customers also receive such lists, further warding off suspicion. ese lists conceal data, but only Bob and Alice will be able unravel the hidden messages because they know the rules of the game. eir communications look legitimate and nothing is suspicious because of the legitimate relationship between the communicating parties. Alice and Bob are using real data from their business field to make their covert communications legitimate.
