A fast chaos-based image cipher with a novel key-stream generation scheme

Since the late 20th century, image encryption based on chaotic system had been a main trend of image cipher on account of many intrinsic features incorporating its sensitivity to initial conditions, ergodicity, immense capacity of the key stream, etc. As known, a large number of schemes of yore are bathed in the sea of security as well as efficiency issues. In this paper, an iconoclastic image encryption algorithm with an improved key stream generation strategy is proposed. Unlike conventional schemes that generate fixed-length key stream elements, variable length elements which are related to plain-text will be generated. As a result, the computational complexity of diffusion modular is significantly reduced and the security of image cryptosystem is also enhanced. Thorough experimental tests are performed with detailed analysis and the satisfactory results have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm is very suitable for real-time secure image communication applications.