A new multiple image encryption algorithm using hyperchaotic systems, SVD, and modified RC5
Open accessAbstract
Secure image encryption is critical for protecting sensitive data such as satellite imagery, which is pivotal for national security and environmental monitoring. However, existing encryption methods often face challenges such as vulnerability to traffic analysis, limited randomness, and insufficient resistance to attacks. To address these gaps, this article proposes a novel multiple image encryption (MIE) algorithm that integrates hyperchaotic systems, Singular Value Decomposition (SVD), counter mode RC5, a chaos-based Hill cipher, and a custom S-box generated via a modified Blum Blum Shub (BBS) algorithm. The proposed MIE algorithm begins by merging multiple satellite images into an augmented image, enhancing security against traffic analysis. The encryption process splits the colored image into RGB channels, with each channel undergoing four stages: additive confusion using a memristor hyperchaotic key transformed by SVD, RC5 encryption in counter mode with XOR operations, Hill cipher encryption using a 6D hyperchaotic key and invertible matrices mod 256, and substitution with a custom S-box generated by a modified BBS. Experimental results demonstrate the proposed algorithm’s superior encryption efficiency, enhanced randomness, and strong resistance to cryptanalytic, differential, and brute-force attacks. These findings highlight the MIE algorithm’s potential for securing satellite imagery in real-time applications, ensuring confidentiality and robustness against modern security threats.
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Conventional cryptographic algorithms such as AES and RSA may not be efficient or adaptable for large-scale, real-time satellite image encryption due to their computational overhead and structural rigidity.
“Conventional cryptographic algorithms such as AES and RSA, while robust for general-purpose data protection, may not be efficient or adaptable for large-scale, real-time satellite image encryption due to their computational overhead and structural rigidity.”
From Hyperchaotic fractional-order image encryption with Knight’s tour scrambling for satellite imagery (2026) · cites this paper as [4]
The Introduction says AES can be inefficient for large, highly redundant satellite images, and Related literature says many existing methods are too computationally intensive for real-time satellite-image processing. The cited passages do not make that assessment of RSA or identify “structural rigidity” as a cause. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCombining multiple images into a single augmented representation reduces overall encryption time by enabling parallelized or batch processing.
“This strategy not only reduces the overall encryption time by enabling parallelized or batch processing, but also enhances security by increasing data complexity and entropy9.”
From A chaos-based augmented image encryption scheme for satellite images using Fredkin logic (2025) · cites this paper as [9]
The Augmented satellite image preprocessing section describes combining multiple images into one augmented image. The Time and complexity analyses section reports encryption times for augmented images and compares the algorithm’s runtime with other methods, but it does not show that augmentation reduces overall time or attribute a time saving to parallelized or batch processing. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.85)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredCombining multiple images into a single augmented representation enhances security by increasing data complexity and entropy.
“This strategy not only reduces the overall encryption time by enabling parallelized or batch processing, but also enhances security by increasing data complexity and entropy9.”
From A chaos-based augmented image encryption scheme for satellite images using Fredkin logic (2025) · cites this paper as [9]
The Introduction and Related literature sections say that merging satellite images into one augmented image improves protection against traffic analysis. The Information entropy section reports high entropy for images encrypted by the overall algorithm, not that merging itself increases entropy or data complexity. The paper discusses efficient parallel processing, but does not establish that combining images reduces encryption time through batch processing. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredImage data exhibits strong spatial redundancy and high correlation among neighboring pixels.
“image data exhibits strong spatial redundancy and high correlation among neighboring pixels”
From Hyperchaotic fractional-order image encryption with Knight’s tour scrambling for satellite imagery (2026) · cites this paper as [4]
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Cited by
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Alexan, W., & Megalli, Y. (2025) · Discover Electronics · doi:10.1007/s44291-025-00116-4 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Self-citationA chaos-based augmented image encryption scheme for satellite images using Fredkin logic
Alexan, W., Maher, E. A., Mamdouh, E., Youssef, M., & Ehab, N. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-22008-z · Cited by 20 · see citing works
“This strategy not only reduces the overall encryption time by enabling parallelized or batch processing, but also enhances security by increasing data complexity and entropy 9 .”
Self-citationSecure image encryption using a 4D chaotic system and Langton’s ant cellular automaton
Alshehri, H. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-25929-x · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Meng, F., Wu, G., & Zhang, J. (2025) · Journal of King Saud University Computer and Information Sciences · doi:10.1007/s44443-025-00163-7 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
“Subsequently, they designed a multiple color image encryption algorithm based on the hyperchaotic system (Alexan et al. 2025a, 2025b).”
Hyperchaotic fractional-order image encryption with Knight’s tour scrambling for satellite imagery
Mamdouh, E., Aboshousha, A., & Alexan, W. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-026-58982-1 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Self-citationChaotic Image Encryption by Intra-Channel Diffusion and Inter-Channel Confusion
Vargas Valencia, J. A., Arango, C. A. M., García, J. D., Guerra, R. U., & Gómez, L. F. D. (2026) · Journal of Cybersecurity and Privacy · doi:10.3390/jcp6030101 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Alexan, W., Youssef, M., Hussein, H. H., Ahmed, K. K., Hosny, K. M., Fathy, A., & Mansour, M. B. M.
- Affiliations
- German International University (EG)
- German University in Cairo (EG)
- University of Prince Edward Island (CA)
- Zagazig University (EG)
- ElSewedy University of Technology (EG)
- British University in Egypt (EG)
- Corresponding author
- Hosny, Khalid M.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2025-03-21
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 9775-9775
- ISSN
- 2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC11928741
- OpenAlex
- W4408699641
- Cited by
- 91
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 46 · 2025: 45
- FWCI
- 31.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- Zagazig University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition › Chaos-based Image/Signal Encryption
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Computer Science and Engineering
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Cryptographic Implementations and Security
- Keywords
- multi-image encryption, hyperchaotic systems, singular value decomposition, RC5, counter mode, Hill cipher, S-box generation, traffic analysis resistance, chaos-based cryptography, cryptanalysis resistance
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