An Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Complex Network Scrambling and Multi-Directional Diffusion

Abstract

Various security threats are encountered when keys are transmitted in public channels. In this paper, we propose an image encryption algorithm based on complex network scrambling and multi-directional diffusion. Combining the idea of public key cryptography, the RSA algorithm is used to encrypt the key related to plaintext. The algorithm consists of three stages: key generation stage, complex network scrambling stage, and multi-directional diffusion stage. Firstly, during the key generation phase, SHA-512 and the original image are used to generate plaintext-related information, which is then converted to plaintext-related key through transformation mapping. Secondly, in the complex network scrambling stage, the chaotic random matrix establishes the node relationships in the complex network, which is then used to construct an image model based on the complex network, and then combines pixel-level and block-level methods to scramble images. Finally, in the multi-directional diffusion stage, the multi-directional diffusion method is used to perform forward diffusion, middle spiral diffusion, and backward diffusion on the image in turn to obtain the final ciphertext image. The experimental results show that our encryption algorithm has a large keyspace, the encrypted image has strong randomness and robustness, and can effectively resist brute force attack, statistical attack, and differential attack.

A hyperchaotic image encryption algorithm based on LSTM neural network and lifting wavelet transform

“…When the image pixels range from 0 to 255, the ideal value of information entropy is 8. The specific calculation formula is shown in equation (13).…”

“…However, the traditional scrambling and diffusion structure is simple and easy to crack. And these two algorithms are processed separately, and the amount of data that the system needs to process increases, which limits the efficiency of image encryption [12,13]. Chen et al [14] successfully broke an image encryption algorithm using two-dimensional sine map and permutation-diffusion, indicating that its security is not high.…”

Enhancing reservoir computing for secure digital image encryption using finance model forecasting

“…Data and signals can be obtained from outside sources in the form of images, time series, or any other type of input data. The input layer updates the reservoir layer with the updated data (Sheng et al, 2022). • Reservoir layer: The reservoir layer resides in the centre of the reservoir computer.…”

Method to Improve the Cryptographic Properties of S-Boxes

“…The cryptosystems implemented by computers are based on mathematical algorithms. Currently, the techniques used to model the most advanced cryptosystems are based on mathematical functions with high complexity and computational cost, which are difficult to process by conventional computers [7], [8]. However, a series of studies [9], [10] have shown that the complexity of the mathematical functions used in cryptosystems does not matter since these are based on operations that are applied sequentially to the information that is processed, so they can be easily broken.…”