Information security with optical means, such as double random phase encoding, has been investigated by various researchers. It has been demonstrated that optical technology possesses several unique characteristics for securing information compared with its electronic counterpart, such as many degrees of freedom. In this paper, we present a review of optical technologies for information security. Optical security systems are reviewed, and theoretical principles and implementation examples are presented to illustrate each optical security system. In addition, advantages and potential weaknesses of each optical security system are analyzed and discussed. It is expected that this review not only will provide a clear picture about current developments in optical security systems but also may shed some light on future developments.

Advances in optical security systems

Information security and authentication are important challenges facing society. Recent attacks by hackers on the databases of large commercial and financial companies have demonstrated that more research and development of advanced approaches are necessary to deny unauthorized access to critical data. Free space optical technology has been investigated by many researchers in information security, encryption, and authentication. The main motivation for using optics and photonics for information security is that optical waveforms possess many complex degrees of freedom such as amplitude, phase, polarization, large bandwidth, nonlinear transformations, quantum properties of photons, and multiplexing that can be combined in many ways to make information encryption more secure and more difficult to attack. This roadmap article presents an overview of the potential, recent advances, and challenges of optical security and encryption using free space optics. The roadmap on optical security is comprised of six categories that together include 16 short sections written by authors who have made relevant contributions in this field. The first category of this roadmap describes novel encryption approaches, including secure optical sensing which summarizes double random phase encryption applications and flaws [Yamaguchi], the digital holographic encryption in free space optical technique which describes encryption using multidimensional digital holography [Nomura], simultaneous encryption of multiple signals [Perez-Cabre], asymmetric methods based on information truncation [Nishchal], and dynamic encryption of video sequences [Torroba]. Asymmetric and one-way cryptosystems are analyzed by Peng. The second category is on compression for encryption. In their respective contributions, Alfalou and Stern propose similar goals involving compressed data and compressive sensing encryption. The very important area of cryptanalysis is the topic of the third category with two sections: Sheridan reviews phase retrieval algorithms to perform different attacks, whereas Situ discusses nonlinear optical encryption techniques and the development of a rigorous optical information security theory. The fourth category with two contributions reports how encryption could be implemented at the nano- or micro-scale. Naruse discusses the use of nanostructures in security applications and Carnicer proposes encoding information in a tightly focused beam. In the fifth category, encryption based on ghost imaging using single-pixel detectors is also considered. In particular, the authors [Chen, Tajahuerce] emphasize the need for more specialized hardware and image processing algorithms. Finally, in the sixth category, Mosk and Javidi analyze in their corresponding papers how quantum imaging can benefit optical encryption systems. Sources that use few photons make encryption systems much more difficult to attack, providing a secure method for authentication.

http://diposit.ub.edu/dspace/bitstream/2445/118388/1/664334.pdf

Roadmap on optical security

Image encryption techniques play a significant role in multimedia applications to secure and authenticate digital images. This paper presents a comprehensive study of various image encryption techniques. This paper covers the most significant developments in meta-heuristic based image encryption techniques. The various attacks and performance measures related to image encryption techniques have also been studied. The existing techniques are analyzed with respect to differential, statistical, and key analyses. The main goal of this paper is to give a broad perspective on characteristics of image encryption techniques. The paper concludes by discussing significant advancements in the field of image encryption and highlighting future challenges.

A Comprehensive Review on Image Encryption Techniques

Asymmetric color image encryption scheme using 2D discrete-time map

An overview of encryption algorithms in color images

Image fusion is a popular method which provides better quality fused image for interpreting the image data. In this paper, color image fusion using wavelet transform is applied for securing data through asymmetric encryption scheme and image hiding. The components of a color image corresponding to different wavelengths (red, green, and blue) are fused together using discrete wavelet transform for obtaining a better quality retrieved color image. The fused color components are encrypted using amplitude- and phase-truncation approach in Fresnel transform domain. Also, the individual color components are transformed into different cover images in order to result disguising information of input image to an attacker. Asymmetric keys, Fresnel propagation parameters, weighing factor, and three cover images provide enlarged key space and hence enhanced security. Computer simulation results support the idea of the proposed fused color image encryption scheme.

Image fusion using wavelet transform and its application to asymmetric cryptosystem and hiding

The equal modulus decomposition (EMD) is a novel asymmetric cryptosystem based on coherent superposition which was proposed to resist the specific attack. In a subsequent work, the scheme was shown to be vulnerable to specific attack. In this paper, we counter the vulnerability through an encoding technique which uses multiple diffraction intensity pattern recordings as the input to the EMD setup in the gyrator domain. This allows suppression of the random phase mask in the EMD path. As a result, the proposed scheme achieves resistance to specific attack. The simulation results and the security analysis demonstrate that EMD based on multiple intensity pattern recording is an effective optical asymmetric cryptosystem suitable for securing data and images.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2040-8978/18/8/085701/pdf

Optical image encryption using equal modulus decomposition and multiple diffractive imaging

Optical asymmetric image encryption using gyrator wavelet transform

Collision is a phenomenon in which two distinct inputs produce an identical output, so if an attacker finds the encryption keys in such a way that when it is applied to an encrypted image, it produces an arbitrary image instead of original one. We propose collision in an asymmetric cryptosystem based on a phase-truncated Fresnel transform. For encryption, instead of using conventional random-phase masks, structured phase masks with desired construction parameters are used. The decryption keys are generated using the amplitude and phase truncation. An attacker generates an arbitrary (collision) image from the encrypted image using a modified Gerchberg-Saxton phase retrieval algorithm. Two different users, authorized and unauthorized user (attacker), can claim the retrieved image as the original data. The authorized user uses the correct decryption keys and retrieves the original image, while an unauthorized user uses the generated keys and retrieves the collision image. In order to verify the authenticity of the retrieved data, a joint transform correlator is used. A sharp auto-correlation peak is obtained when an image retrieved by authorized user is matched with the encrypted image. However, cross-correlation is obtained when an encrypted image is matched with the collision image. Results of computer simulation support the idea of the proposed collision.

Isha Mehra

Papers

Image fusion using wavelet transform and its application to asymmetric cryptosystem and hiding

Optical image encryption using equal modulus decomposition and multiple diffractive imaging

Optical asymmetric image encryption using gyrator wavelet transform

Collision in Fresnel domain asymmetric cryptosystem using phase truncation and authentication verification

Optical asymmetric watermarking using modified wavelet fusion and diffractive imaging