Image encryption algorithm based on DNA network and hyperchaotic system

• Published in: The Visual computer Vol. 40; no. 11; pp. 8001 - 8021
• Main Authors: Yu, Jinwei, Peng, Kaiyu, Zhang, Langwen, Xie, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.11.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Computer Graphics; Computer Science; Correlation coefficients; Data encryption; Decoding; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Encryption; Entropy (Information theory); Image Processing and Computer Vision; Logistics; Mapping; Optimization algorithms; Original Article; Security; Image encryption; Hyper-chaotic system; DNA network; DNA operation; Triploid mutation
• ISSN: 0178-2789; 1432-2315
• DOI: 10.1007/s00371-023-03219-9

This paper presents a novel deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) network encryption method combined with a hyperchaotic system for image encryption. The DNA network encryption algorithm contains 12 different DNA operations, which overcomes the limitations of existing DNA encryption schemes that rely on limited fixed DNA operation types. Firstly, secure hash algorithm 256-bit (SHA-256) is employed to generate secret keys associated with the plaintext. Secondly, the hyperchaotic system is employed to derive key streams with high plaintext sensitivity. Thirdly, the DNA encoding, DNA network encryption and decoding are performed sequentially to encrypt the plaintext image using the keystreams. Finally, an additional row–column disruption is executed to strengthen the resistance of the encryption scheme to attacks. Security analysis reveals that the information entropy of our cipher image reaches 7.9975 and the average pixel correlation coefficients are below 0.01, implying that our encryption algorithm has excellent security.