A Novel Chaotic Map and Its Application to Secure Transmission of Multimodal Images

The advent of digital technology, augmented by connected devices, has catalyzed a dramatic increase in multimedia content consumption, facilitating on-the-go access and communication. However, this surge also heightens the risks of unauthorized access, privacy breaches, and cyberattacks. Consequently, ensuring the secure and efficient transmission and storage of multimedia content is of paramount importance. This article presents a robust encryption scheme for secure image transmission, utilizing a novel one-dimensional chaotic map characterized by random and complex dynamics, validated through NIST test and meticulous evaluation. Key matrices are derived from the chaotic map, with the SHA-256 hash of random, nonoverlapping blocks of the input image influencing the initial conditions, thereby ensuring resistance to differential cryptanalysis. The encryption process encompasses a dual shuffling mechanism: an adaptive shuffling guided by the chaotic key, followed by orbital shuffling, which rearranges pixel positions by segmenting the image into distinct orbital patterns. This is complemented by a feedback diffusion technique that ensures each pixel’s encryption is influenced by neighboring values and the keys employed. Extensive evaluation with multimodal images demonstrates the scheme’s versatility, with significant resilience against various cryptographic attacks, as evidenced by thorough assessments. Comparative analysis further highlights the superiority of the proposed scheme over state-of-the-art approaches. These attributes position the proposed scheme as a highly effective solution for contemporary digital security challenges.