A synchronous intertwining logistic map-DNA approach for color image encryption

Abstract

In the past decade, image encryption has emerged as a matter of interest to scientists and researchers. The paper presents a synchronous permutation-diffusion image encryption algorithm using Intertwining Logistic Map (ILM) and Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for color images. The design of the proposed algorithm is simple, secure and efficient. It is mainly composed of two phases: Permutation and Diffusion. In the first phase, the original image pixels are permuted using the 3D chaotic sequence generated by ILM. In the next phase, the permuted pixels from step one are diffused using DNA XOR operation. The implemented approach is faster as permutation and diffusion operations are performed synchronously in a single iteration. The paper evaluates the performance of the proposed approach using various parameters like key sensitivity, entropy, secret key space, contrast analysis, correlation coefficient (CC)—vertical, horizontal and diagonal, Number of Pixel Change Rate (NPCR) and Unified Average Change in Intensity (UACI). The evaluated results show that use of DNA and synchronization feature with ILM exhibits significant improvement in the information entropy, increase in the randomness feature and contrast, high resistance against the varied statistical and differential attacks, and improvement in encryption efficiency.