A fast color image encryption algorithm based on hyper-chaotic systems

This paper presents a new way of image encryption scheme, which consists of two processes; key stream generation process and one-round diffusion process. The first part is a pseudo-random key stream generator based on hyper-chaotic systems. The initial conditions for both hyper-chaotic systems are derived using a 256-bit-long external secret key by applying some algebraic transformations to the key. The original key stream is related to the plain-image which increases the level of security and key sensitivity of the proposed algorithm. The second process employs the image data in order to modify the pixel gray-level values and crack the strong correlations between adjacent pixels of an image simultaneously. In this process, the states which are combinations of two hyper-chaotic systems are selected according to image data itself and are used to encrypt the image. This feature will significantly increase plaintext sensitivity. Moreover, in order to reach higher security and higher complexity, the proposed method employs the image size in key stream generation process. It is demonstrated that the number of pixel change rate (NPCR) and the unified average changing intensity (UACI) can satisfy security and performance requirements (NPCR $$>$$>99.80 %, UACI $$>$$>33.56 %) in one round of diffusion. The experimental results reveal that the new image encryption algorithm has the advantages of large key space, high security, high sensitivity, and high speed. Also, the distribution of gray-level values of the encrypted image has a semi-random behavior.