An efficient DNA-inspired image encryption algorithm based on hyper-chaotic maps and wavelet fusion

Abstract

This paper introduces an efficient image encryption method which is inspired by Deoxyribo Nucleic Acid (DNA) nitrogenous bases. Amongst its advantages is that it is highly sensitive to many types of attacks. A confused version of an image (using a simple chaotic map) is DNA coded using its four types of nitrogenous bases. The resultant image made of DNA sequences is transformed into four sub-images A, C, G, and T, DNA’s bases. Chen’s hyper-chaotic map is used to diffuse the resultant images, according to a control code. The four DNA images are then combined using a wavelet confusion algorithm to produce an encrypted image. Numerical simulation was used to examine the effectiveness of the encrypted image against different attacks. The results were compared to those of other encryption algorithms and proved that the proposed encryption method delivers better results than other conventional ones including DNA based with different chaotic maps and double random phase encoding.