Securing CFA Images through the Simultaneous Hybrid Encryption-Watermarking Method Using Quaternions

Abstract

In order to protect digital data against unauthorized copying, falsification and redistribution over the internet, we proposed a new hybrid method of simultaneous encryption-watermarking of CFA (Color Filter Array) images. The CFA images are important for image analysis because these raw images have not undergone any process (interpolation, demosaicking, etc.) that might alter their reliability. This article presents a study of a new technique for the secure transfer of CFA digital images based on the simultaneous combination of chaotic encryption technology and blind watermarking of images from the quaternionic wavelets transform (QWT). The calculations of the various evaluation parameters were carried out with the aim of determining the robustness of our hybrid algorithm to certain attack. The use of simultaneous combination of chaotic encryption and blind watermarking techniques optimizes the speed in processing time and increases data security. The different results obtained show a good quality of the reconstructed image and the extracted watermark despite the attacks suffered by the encrypted-watermarked images. The application of this hybrid algorithm of simultaneous on CFA images allowed us to obtain a stand-alone transmission system and ensure the integrity of digital data.