A novel image encryption algorithm based on hybrid chaotic maps using a key image

One of the most important data currently shared on the Internet is images of various sizes and types, gray and color, private and public, civilian and military, medical and scientific, commercial, and others. The biggest challenge and problem is the secure transmission of these images in this insecure environment. In this context, this paper proposes a new image encryption algorithm using a hybrid of three modified and improved chaotic one-dimensional (1D) maps to avoid the shortcomings of 1D maps and multidimensional (MD) maps. A key image is used to initialize the chaotic maps and is also used as a mask in the diffusion phase with the eXclusive OR (XOR) operator. The encryption process uses ExtraParam extracted from the original image, which is very sensitive to bit changes during the initialization of the chaotic maps. The proposed encryption process consists of two main phases: confusion and diffusion processes. The proposed image encryption algorithm has successfully passed numerous tests and cryptanalysis. We also measure the proposed algorithm with various analysis experiments such as histogram and entropy analysis, the number of pixel change rate (NPCR), the unified average changing intensity (UACI), the mean square error(MSE), the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and Key Space. The experimental results and comparative analysis show that the proposed encryption algorithm has excellent performance, is strong enough to withstand various attacks, and provides excellent privacy to digital images.