Data reorganization for image encryption: presentation in the data of hare

Abstract

ABSTRACT In track and field, a hare (or pacemaker) is a runner who leads the early part of a race to help other competitors achieve better performance and potentially set records. This practice became common in the early 1980s. In cryptography, organizing data before encryption serves as a strategic technique to strengthen defenses against cryptanalytic attacks. Attackers often exploit patterns in encrypted data to narrow down key possibilities. By deliberately disrupting data structure prior to encryption, we can complicate these efforts. This concept, termed “Presentation in the Data of Hare,” proposes various data organization methods (e.g., line by line, column by column) to enhance encryption. This approach can add 21 bits to the encryption key, significantly increasing the complexity and time required to crack it—equivalent to a 2 million-fold increase. This work focuses on improving security in cryptographic systems by employing innovative techniques, including those related to post-quantum cryptography. By strategically organizing data before encryption, we aim to hinder potential cryptanalytic attacks, making it considerably harder for attackers to exploit any regularities, thus bolstering resilience against both classical and quantum threats.