Complex entropy based encryption and decryption technique for securing medical images

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Information Security
• Cryptography

Background:

• Medical image security is paramount during transmission and storage due to sensitive patient data.
• Existing methods like watermarking and digital signatures offer some protection, but robust encryption is crucial.
• Transferring medical images over public networks necessitates advanced security measures to prevent unauthorized access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a visual encryption strategy for securing medical images before transmission or cloud storage.
• To ensure unauthorized access to medical images is prevented, maintaining confidentiality.
• To develop an encryption technique that is reversible without loss of information.

Main Methods:

• A pixel shuffling-based encryption technique was employed.
• A secret key was generated from the medical image itself.
• Modified Arnold Map Encryption was utilized for image encryption and decryption, enhancing randomness and image entropy.

Main Results:

• The proposed method successfully encrypted and decrypted medical images, preserving original data.
• Modified Arnold Map Encryption demonstrated increased randomness and higher image entropy, making decryption more difficult for unauthorized parties.
• Comparative analysis showed superior performance of Modified Arnold Map Encryption over algorithms like SHA-13, Hyper Chaotic, and various chaotic maps in terms of encryption speed and Number of Pixel Change Rate (NPCR).

Conclusions:

• The developed visual encryption strategy effectively secures medical images, ensuring confidentiality and preventing unauthorized access.
• Modified Arnold Map Encryption offers a robust and efficient solution for medical image protection.
• The technique provides a valuable tool for safeguarding sensitive medical information in digital healthcare environments.