Abstract The development of communication technology has brought emerging technologies such as 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), but it also hides a significant risk of information leakage. In the post-quantum era, the security of most traditional encryption technologies will face serious challenges. For the information security problem, quantum technology is a feasible solution, which can effectively guarantee the security of data. In this paper, a new scheme for quantum image privacy protection is proposed. The NEQR (Novel Enhanced Quantum Representation) quantum image representation can be used to quickly convert a classical image into a quantum image, and the converted quantum image has higher flexibility and maneuverability in processing. In this scheme, the static circular dispersion scramble algorithm is proposed to inversely scramble the image by constructing a diffusion analysis table, and the scrambling algorithm is combined with Knuth-Durstenfeld shuffling to enhance the overall randomness of the algorithm. A four dimensional fractional order hyper chaotic system is used as the key generator and superimposed diffusion using Fibonacci Q-matrix, Gray code and chaos matrix is performed to completely incorporate the plain-image information into the cipher-image. In this, the Gray code will act on the pixel positions in the quantum image. In addition, converting the color image into quantum state for operation effectively ensures the security during transmission. After a series of experimental analysis, we obtained excellent test results, such as an average information entropy of 7.9972.
Abstract The development of communication technology has brought emerging technologies such as 5G networks and the Internet of Things (IoT), but it also hides a significant risk of information leakage. In the post-quantum era, the security of most traditional encryption technologies will face serious challenges. For the information security problem, quantum technology is a feasible solution, which can effectively guarantee the security of data. In this paper, a new scheme for quantum image privacy protection is proposed. The NEQR (Novel Enhanced Quantum Representation) quantum image representation can be used to quickly convert a classical image into a quantum image, and the converted quantum image has higher flexibility and maneuverability in processing. In this scheme, the static circular dispersion scramble algorithm is proposed to inversely scramble the image by constructing a diffusion analysis table, and the scrambling algorithm is combined with Knuth-Durstenfeld shuffling to enhance the overall randomness of the algorithm. A four dimensional fractional order hyper chaotic system is used as the key generator and superimposed diffusion using Fibonacci Q-matrix, Gray code and chaos matrix is performed to completely incorporate the plain-image information into the cipher-image. In this, the Gray code will act on the pixel positions in the quantum image. In addition, converting the color image into quantum state for operation effectively ensures the security during transmission. After a series of experimental analysis, we obtained excellent test results, such as an average information entropy of 7.9972.
In the wake of the information security era, ensuring the privacy, accuracy, and reliability of images has become imperative. In this paper, a quantum image encryption method combining quantum Arnold transform and a hyper 5D chaotic system is devised. Furthermore, first, a nonlinear color quantization model (NCQI) is used to convert digital images in standard RGB format into quantum color images. Then, based on the size of the converted quantum color image, the corresponding encryption key is generated using the hyper 5D chaotic system. In the encryption stage, we use the key to encrypt the converted quantum color image. This process entails two principal steps: First, we use quantum Arnold transform to scramble the pixel positions in the image and, subsequently, diffuse the pixel values through a carefully designed cyclic shift strategy to achieve the preliminary encryption of the image. To further strengthen the encryption security, we use a quantum rotation gate to perform quantum rotation transformation on the color channel of each pixel point in the encrypted image separately. These well-designed encryption processes, in succession, significantly enhance the security of the image. This paper provides the corresponding quantum circuit design and validates both the efficacy and security of the quantum image encryption scheme through simulation experimental results.
Data, especially image data, is transmitted at an incredible rate due to the exponential growth in the number of connected devices brought about by the fast development of consumer electronics. Data transmission security remains fundamental in effective communication systems, especially with the emergence of the quantum era. Quantum advancements challenge traditional asymmetric cryptography, necessitating the requirement for new encryption schemes. The multimedia encryption schemes pose further challenges due to its large size, structural complexity, real-time requirements, and unique attack vectors specific to multimedia data. The current classical image encryption algorithms do not fully address the challenges posed by Quantum technology for securing the multimedia transmission. This paper proposes a hybrid framework combining Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), chaos-based encryption, and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) to secure multimedia data, particularly images, in IoT consumer electronic networks. Integrating 2D-Logistic Sine Coupling Map (2D-LSCM), initialized with the Keys generated from QKD, and NTRU algorithm, this scheme achieves robust security and efficient performance. This new architecture improves processing speeds and enhances specificity and sensitivity values, fortifying chaotic map performance. Our experimental results and comprehensive security analysis demonstrate the security and performance of the framework. Correlation Analysis using Person correlation coefficient, with a nearing zero value, ensures the confidentiality of the encrypted image.
The rapid advancement in consumer technology has led to an exponential increase in the connected devices, resulting in an enormous and continuous flow of data, particularly the image data. This data needs to be processed, managed, and secured efficiently, especially in the quantum-enabled consumer technology era. This paper, in this regards, presents a quantum image encryption scheme featuring a novel two-phase chaotic confusion-diffusion architecture. The proposed architecture consists of four distinct confusion-diffusion modules that perform a simultaneous qubit and pixel-level encryption on both the position and intensity of quantum encoded pixels. Moreover, quantum circuits for′qubit-level chaotic transformation′and′chaos-based selective perfect shuffle operation′have been implemented, which collectively enhance the encryption strength of the proposed scheme. Extensive evaluation has been performed based on various statistical security parameters, such as entropy and correlation. When subjected to differential attacks, the proposed scheme proved its resilience exhibiting ideal results of average 99.6% NPCR (Number of Pixels Change Rate) and 33.5% UACI (Unified Average Changing Intensity). Besides, the proposed scheme also demonstrated resilience against occlusion attacks. Tests involving 50% data occlusion from encrypted images validated the proposed scheme’s capability to successfully decrypt the tampered images, recovering maximum information.
In encryption technology, image scrambling is a common processing operation. This paper proposes a quantum version of the 3D Mobius scrambling transform based on the QRCI model, which changes not only the position of pixels but also the gray values. The corresponding quantum circuits are devised. Furthermore, an encryption scheme combining the quantum 3D Mobius transform with the 3D hyper-chaotic Henon map is suggested to protect the security of image information. To facilitate subsequent processing, the RGB color image is first represented with QRCI. Then, to achieve the pixel-level permutation effect, the quantum 3D Mobius transform is applied to scramble bit-planes and pixel positions. Ultimately, to increase the diffusion effect, the scrambled image is XORed with a key image created by the 3D hyper-chaotic Henon map to produce the encrypted image. Numerical simulations and result analyses indicate that our designed encryption scheme is secure and reliable. It offers better performance in the aspect of key space, histogram variance, and correlation coefficient than some of the latest algorithms.
In the digital era, characterized by extensive online data exchange, information security has become a priority. While traditional encryption methods have proven effective in protecting data transfers, the advent of advanced quantum computing has increased susceptibility to security breaches. Quantum encryption provides a revolutionary solution to this problem by using quantum mechanics principles to establish algorithms that are impermeable to decryption. Using these quantum properties, cryptographic protocols are developed to provide superior security, unlike traditional encryption methods. The image plays an important role in transmitting information in all areas. Therefore, quantum image encryption methods are specifically designed to counter the potential risks posed by quantum computers, which can compromise conventional encryption protocols. This ensures the preservation of data security despite advances in quantum computing technology. In addition, quantum image encryption improves data transmission efficiency by establishing secure communication channels using quantum stats, thereby reducing the need for bandwidth and improving transmission speed. This paper proposes a new method of quantum encryption based on GNEQR representation and the modification of pixel values and positions in an image. After converting the image into a quantum form, we applied an algorithm to modify the values and positions of the pixels using a succession of quantum gates. We concluded this study with a statistical analysis showing the robustness of our quantum image encryption method.
Background: Quantum image processing is rapidly developing in the field of quantum computing, and it can be successfully implemented on the Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) device. Quantum image encryption holds a pivotal position in this domain. However, the encryption process often encounters security vulnerabilities and entails complex computational complexities, thereby consuming substantial quantum resources. To address this, the present study proposes a quantum image encryption algorithm based on four-dimensional chaos. Methods: The classical image is first encoded into quantum information using the Generalized Quantum Image Representation (GQIR) method. Subsequently, the trajectory of the four-dimensional chaotic system is randomized, and multi-dimensional chaotic keys are generated to initially encrypt the pixel values of the image. Then, the Arnold transformation is applied to randomly encrypt the pixel positions, resulting in the encrypted image. During the decryption process, the inverse process of encryption is employed to restore the original image. Results: We simulated this process in the Python environment, and the information entropy analysis experiment showed that the information entropy of the three encrypted images reached above 7.999, so the system has good encryption. At the same time, the correlation of the pixel distribution after the encryption algorithm is weak, which proves that the control parameters of the chaotic system can effectively reduce the correlation between pixels in the image. In the final key space analysis, the key space issued by our encryption can reach $10 140 \gg 2 128 $. Conclusion: Our method is resistant to destructive attacks and can produce scrambled images with higher encryption and usability. This algorithm solves the problems of general encryption algorithms such as periodicity, small key space, and vulnerability to statistical analysis, and proposes a reliable and effective encryption scheme. By making full use of the characteristics of Arnold transformation permutation, ergodicity and the randomness of the four-dimensional chaotic system, the encryption algorithm uses the larger key space provided by the four-dimensional Lorenz system.