Want to send text messages from your PC? Here’s how to link Android to your Windows computer.
1. Write an Invisible Text Message in an Image File
An image file is comprised of 1s and 0s, just like every other file on your computer, including text files, allowing you to technically open an image file in a text editor and start typing directly inside the raw data. When viewed normally, the image itself will not visibly contain anything resembling the text that you typed, but when opened in a text editor, your message will be visible. Here’s how: This is something to be expected from tampering with the raw data of an image file, but it will still effectively hide your secret message. Only those who think to open an image in a text file would ever see your message.
2. Record a Secret Voice Message Inside a Song
You may want to send a secret message that’s more personal than just some text on a screen. To that end, you can record a voice message and plant it discreetly inside any song file. With some audio editing, you can disguise your message, and an untrained listener will just think it’s part of the song. Just make sure you have a microphone set up before you start! Tip: check out the best sound schemes for Windows that you can install on your PC.
3. Hide an Image Inside Another Image
This technique is one of the more technically challenging approaches but also one of the coolest. It allows you to hide an image inside a cover image that is two times bigger or more in terms of the number of pixels. The result: the small image is completely imperceptible but can be extracted without any data loss.
Note: what follows is a guide heavy on Command Prompt. You’ll also have to install Python and download an open source project.
Replace “Cat.png” and “Secret.png” with the paths to your cover image and secret image, respectively, while “output.png” should be the name of the new combined file.
If you’re new to Git, we have a beginner’s guide that will help you understand its basics.
4. Hide Multiple Files (an Archive File) Inside an Image
If you have many documents to hide, you’ll be happy to learn that you can discreetly hide them all away in one go with this easy method. You don’t have to use 7-Zip for this technique, by the way. WinRAR or PeaZip would also work. Additionally, you can zip up your secrets on mobile. Check out our guide on zipping and unzipping files on Android.
5. Hide Any File in Another Plain File
This approach, using something called alternate data streams, can hide something when you’re in a pinch. Tip: learn how to add a text box in Google Docs for increased flexibility. Image credit: Caleb Oquendo via Pexels All screenshots by Brandon Li. To ensure you can share your files, upload them to a file-sharing service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Microsoft OneDrive. Do note that the method with alternate data streams won’t work if the file is taken off the computer’s file system. Encryption and steganography can be used in tandem. You could encrypt any of the secret files used in steganography for added protection. If you’re interested in upgrading your spy skills, we have a guide on how to encrypt your messages with PGP.
