System and method configured to commission and decommission endpoint devices using steganography

A system, comprising:

• a network;
• an endpoint device operatively connected to the network, and including:
• a first hardware-based processor;
• a first memory configured to store first operating instructions and configured to provide the first operating instructions to the first hardware-based processor;
• and
• a computing device including a first set of modules implementing the first operating instructions provided to the first hardware-based processor, the first set of modules including:
• a first steganographic module;
• and
• a steganographic sub-system operatively connected to the endpoint device through the network, and including:
• a second hardware-based processor;
• a second memory configured to store second operating instructions and configured to provide the second operating instructions to the second hardware-based processor;
• a communication interface configured to establish a communication channel through the network to the endpoint device;
• and
• a server including a second set of modules implementing the second operating instructions provided to the second hardware-based processor, the second set of modules including:
• a second steganographic module receiving configuration instructions to reconfigure the endpoint device to commission or to decommission at least a first component of the endpoint device, to generate a secret message corresponding to the configuration instructions, to steganographically embed the secret message in a carrier file using a predetermined steganographic technique, to generate a steganographic identification message which indicates the predetermined steganographic technique, and to concatenate the steganographic identification message and the carrier file,
• wherein the communication interface transmits the concatenation of the steganographic identification message and the carrier file with the embedded instructions via the communication channel to the endpoint device,
• wherein the first steganographic module of the endpoint device is configured to extract the steganographic identification message from the concatenation, to extract the secret message from the carrier file using the predetermined steganographic technique in the extracted steganographic identification message, to extract the configuration instructions in the secret message, and
• wherein the first hardware-based processor executes the configuration instructions extracted from the secret message, thereby reconfiguring the endpoint device based on the configuration instructions to commission or to decommission the at least a first component of the endpoint device.

A method, comprising:

• receiving configuration instructions at a steganographic module to reconfigure an endpoint device to commission or to decommission at least a first component of the endpoint device;
• generating a secret message corresponding to the configuration instructions;
• steganographically embedding the secret message in a carrier file using a predetermined steganographic technique;
• generating a steganographic identification message which indicates the predetermined steganographic technique;
• concatenating the steganographic identification message and the carrier file;
• transmitting the concatenation of the steganographic identification message and the carrier file with the embedded instructions to the endpoint device;
• receiving the concatenation of the steganographic identification message and the carrier file at the endpoint device;
• extracting the steganographic identification message from the concatenation;
• extracting the secret message from the carrier file using the predetermined steganographic technique in the extracted steganographic identification message;
• extracting the configuration instructions in the secret message;
• and
• executing the configuration instructions extracted from the secret message, thereby reconfiguring the endpoint device based on the configuration instructions to commission or to decommission the at least a first component of the endpoint device.