Edinburgh Napier University

  In this paper, we present an image encryption scheme based on the multi-stage chaos-based image encryption algorithm. The method works on the principle of confusion and diffusion. The proposed scheme containing both confusion and diffusion modules are highly secure and effective as compared to the existing schemes. Initially, an image (red, green, and blue components) is partitioned into blocks with an equal number of pixels. Each block is then processed with Tinkerbell Chaotic Map (TBCM) to get shuffled pixels and shuffled blocks. Composite Fractal Function (CFF) change the value of pixels of each color component (layer) to obtain a random sequence. Through the obtained random sequence, three layers of plain image are encrypted. Finally, with each encrypted layer, Brownian Particles (BP) are XORed that added an extra layer of security. The experimental tests including a number of statistical tests validated the security of the presented scheme. The results reported in the paper show that the proposed scheme has higher security and is lightweight as compared to state-of-the-art methods proposed in the literature.