Error-induced inverse pixel visual cryptography for secure QR code communication

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<p>The rapid proliferation of Quick Response (QR) codes in various applications, particularly in sensitive domains like banking and financial transactions, necessitates robust data protection measures. Visual cryptography techniques are used to encode confidential information into multiple shares called shadows, which are communicated to the receivers. The receiving side decodes the shadows by stacking them together physically or digitally. In this research, an innovative solution titled “Error-induced inverse pixel visual cryptography (EIIPVC) for secure QR code communication” is proposed to enhance the security. The proposed EIIPVC leverages complementary shadows and introduces controlled errors during the sharing process. This feature makes it exceedingly challenging for potential malpractice to access or tamper with the data, ensuring a higher level of security. In this research, a single grayscale secret source (GSS) image in the form of QR code is used. This research also contributes to improving traditional issues, such as the quality of the reconstructed image and pixel expansion. The experimental results demonstrate that the EIIPVC approach significantly ensures enhanced security, safeguarding the transmitted data against potential attacks. The quality of the reconstructed image is improved by minimizing the mean square error (MSE) value up to 5%, indicating its superiority in preserving the visual clarity.</p>