Enhancing encryption of an RGB image by combining the Lorenz chaotic system and Arnold’s cat map

Abstract

The encryption of an RGB image can be significantly improved by combining the Lorenz chaotic system with Arnold’s cat map, leveraging the strengths of both chaotic systems to achieve robust image security. The Lorenz system, known for its complex and unpredictable behavior, can be employed to generate a sequence of pseudorandom numbers used for key-based pixel shuffling. The result is then utilized to drive Arnold’s map, which excels at spatially rearranging pixel positions through its chaotic stretch-and-fold transformation. By first applying the Lorenz system to produce a dynamic key stream and then using Arnold’s cat map to permute pixel positions, this combined approach enhances encryption by introducing multiple layers of complexity and unpredictability. The Lorenz system’s sensitivity to initial conditions ensures that even small changes in the key lead to significantly different transformations, while the Arnold cat map’s mixing properties ensure that pixel values are thoroughly scrambled. The result is an image that is exceptionally resistant to both statistical analysis and brute-force attacks, providing a higher level of security for sensitive visual data.