Week 12 Reflection: When Does a Hidden-Data Claim Become Evidence?

Use your CTF investigation records.

Write 150 to 250 words, or record an equivalent explanation, responding to this prompt:

Two image files look identical, but one is larger. Why is that not enough to claim that it contains steganography?

Include:

• one observable clue
• one alternative explanation
• one byte-level or metadata observation
• one approved extraction result
• the difference between hiding and encrypting data
• one false positive from the lab

Finish with:

I would call hidden data confirmed only after ________.