This paper describes a novel image encryption algorithm based on a parameter-control scroll chaotic attractor. Firstly, a novel chaotic system is constructed, and some basic dynamic characteristics of the chaotic system are analyzed. Secondly, the chaotic sequence is decomposed using the Schur decomposition method to obtain N orthogonal matrices, which are multiplied by the plaintext matrix. Finally, the six highorder bit planes are subjected to disturbance and ''same OR'' operations, and the scrambled image matrix is combined with the low two-bit matrix to obtain an eight-bit matrix. At the same time, the same OR operation is applied to the disturbed image matrix and the chaotic sequence to obtain the final encrypted image. Theoretical analysis shows that the key space of the algorithm can be up to 10 135. Additionally, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves high key sensitivity and can effectively resist statistical analysis and gray value analysis attacks. With the exception of exhaustive attacks, all attack methods based on the determined plaintext-ciphertext mapping relationship will be invalid. INDEX TERMS Four-dimensional chaotic system, digital image encryption, dynamic characteristics, ''same OR'' operation. TAO WANG received the M.Sc. degree in computer science from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, in 2005. He is currently pursuing the Ph.D. degree in software engineering with the College of Computer Science, Sichuan University. He is currently an Associate Professor with the School of Advanced Materials and Mechatronic Engineering, Hubei Minzu University. He is also the author of more than ten research articles and a series of computer software product registration. His research interests include data mining, image encryption, and parallel computing.