An ASCII based effective and multi-operation image encryption method

Abstract

The main challenge for American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) based image encryption methods is to increase security with less computational cost. Earlier, well known image encryption techniques are not only deficient in performance but also lacked in embedding of confidential data in an image using ASCII based methods. Therefore, this study aims to contribute an ASCII based efficient and secure image encryption method having additional feature of embedding confidential data in an image. Moreover, the embedding process is not static but it is dynamic as compared to the existing work. The novelty of proposed method encompasses optimal security, effective encryption speed and randomized embedding of secret data in an image even of having multi-operations. The proposed method was evaluated experimentally with variety of tests such as Pixel correlation analysis, Number of Pixels Change Rate (NPCR), Unified Average Changing Intensity (UACI), Histogram, Entropy, Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), and Mean Square Error (MSE) including encryption decryption time. Thus the experimental results show that the proposed method is optimally secure and outperformed in image encryption as well as in randomized embedding of confidential data than the existing techniques.