Image encryption algorithm based on DNA sequence-driven key scrambling and secure hashing

Abstract

In the evolving landscape of secure image transmission, safeguarding sensitive visual information against unauthorized access remains a critical challenge. This study introduces an innovative DNA-based encryption scheme that leverages the inherent randomness of SHA-256 hashing with mutation, and crossover operations to enhance the security of image encryption. The proposed method transforms image data into a DNA sequence, subsequently encrypted using a key derived from the SHA-256 hash function. This process ensures a robust, non-linear relationship between the original image and the encrypted output, making the encryption resistant to traditional cryptanalytic attacks. Modified results after crossover and other operations of the SHA-256 hash function can produce unique, fixed-length outputs from variable input sizes, introducing a high level of unpredictability and entropy, further securing the encrypted images. The encryption scheme was rigorously tested on various standard image datasets, demonstrating its effectiveness in maintaining image fidelity while providing a strong defense against unauthorized decryption attempts. This experiment underscores the potential of integrating DNA-based encryption with cryptographic hash functions to achieve a new security standard in image transmission.