Project description
A state-of-art steganalysis for effectively uncovering threats
Steganalysis is a technique long used to identify hidden messages with the use of steganography. Recently, steganography has been increasingly employed and developed by criminals and terrorists who use it to place hidden, innocent-looking messages. Therefore, to investigate dangerous hidden information, today, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) cannot rely anymore on outdated tools. With this in mind, the EU-funded UNCOVER project aims to design, create and evaluate the most advanced solutions for specific LEA needs: fastest, flexible and widely adaptable multiple-case digital tools integrated into a user-friendly platform and the regular criminal investigation cycles. It will also guarantee the best operational qualities with privacy protection and chain-of-custody needs.
Objective
Criminals and terrorists use more and more data hiding methods (steganography) for concealing incriminating information in innocent-looking digital media files such as images, video, audio, and text files. UNCOVERs main objective is to fill existing gaps in the ability of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) for detecting the presence of such hidden information (i.e. steganalysis). To carry out a full investigation into criminal and terrorist activities, LEAs currently use available (commercial) tools to detect hidden information in collected digital media. However, these tools detect only a limited number of hiding methods, are slow, and offer no indication of confidence. Moreover, many commercial tools lag a decade behind the scientific state-of-the-art. The members of UNCOVER are committed to bridge these gaps and thus substantially increase the technological autonomy of LEAs in the field of digital media steganalysis. With its consortium of 22 partners including LEAs, forensic institutes, leading researchers working at universities and research institutions, as well as industrial companies, UNCOVER sets out to outperform available steganalysis solutions in terms of performance (number of detectable steganographic methods, detection accuracy), usability, operational needs, privacy protection, and chain-of-custody considerations. The developed detection and investigation tools will be integrated into a flexible and user-friendly platform. End-users play a key role throughout the project cycle: from proposal writing over analysis of user requirements and tools development through the final evaluation. In particular, regular feedback cycles with LEAs, forensics institutes and external stakeholders will ensure that the developed solutions can be integrated into the daily criminal investigation pipeline of LEAs. A set of clearly defined Key Performance Indicators allows an objective evaluation of progress and end results against the defined objectives.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.7. - Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.7.1. - Fight crime, illegal trafficking and terrorism, including understanding and tackling terrorist ideas and beliefs
- H2020-EU.3.7.8. - Support the Union's external security policies including through conflict prevention and peace-building
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
1000 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium
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Participants (24)
75794 Paris
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
59000 Lille
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10004 Troyes
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6020 Innsbruck
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160 00 Praha
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36310 Vigo Pontevedra
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39106 Magdeburg
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140 00 PRAHA
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36214 VIGO
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12435 Berlin
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Participation ended
01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
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1120 Bruxelles / Brussel
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2490 AA The Hague
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10226 Stockholm
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03202 Elche
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
92230 Gennevilliers
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81677 Munich
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2595 CC The Hague
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1060 Wien
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
75800 Paris
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78140 Velizy-Villacoublay
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
78140 Velizy-Villacoublay
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01370 Vantaa
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2850 Boom
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