Fog and mobile edge computing have gained considerable attention from the research and development community. The problems related to security and privacy of biometric content are simpler to solve through edge computing resulting in improved security and privacy of biometric and other critically private information. Zero-watermarking has been proposed as a solution to help protect the ownership of multimedia content that is easy to copy and distribute. Visual cryptography is another approach to secure data that is to be shared through generating multiple shares. This paper is concerned with developing a biometric security solution for face images, using visual cryptography and zero-watermarking, that does not adversely impact the visual quality of the image. The original face image is not modified through the zero-watermarking and visual encryption procedures and this in turn does not adversely impact the recognition rate.

Biometric Security Through Visual Encryption for Fog Edge Computing

Multi-tier authentication schemes for fog computing: Architecture, security perspective, and challenges

In this paper, we propose a visual-cryptographic image hiding method based on visual cryptography (VC) and volume grating optics. The secret image is converted to the encrypted visual keys (VKs) according to the normal VC algorithm. Then the VKs are further embellished to the QR-code-like appearance and hidden as the holographic optical elements (HOEs), which are fabricated by the holographic exposure of photopolymer. In the decryption process, the fabricated HOE-VKs are illuminated with the laser beam. The reconstructed VKs are overlaid to extract the hidden information directly in the optical facility, without additional computation. Optical experiments verify that the VKs in HOE mode improves the system with high security and good robustness on the random noise attack. Besides, the volume grating nature also enlarges the system bandwidth by using the multiplexing technique. The proposed method may provide a promising potential for the practical image hiding systems.

Visual-cryptographic image hiding with holographic optical elements.

QR code is designed as machine readable symbol, which is widely used in various fields of life due to its large message capacity and fast decoding speed. However, as a public standard, it will give rise to the security issue when delivering sensitive information with QR code. To overcome this weakness, this paper explores the characteristic of QR code to propose an efficient secret hiding mechanism to protect the sensitive information within QR code. The secret message would be embedded into cover QR code based on (8, 4) Hamming code. The error correction capacity (ECC) of QR code would correct the errors produced in the secret embedding procedure, and the valid marked QR code would reduce people’s curious. Compared to the state-of-art works, the proposed scheme achieves a better performance on the aspects of secret payload and embedding efficiency.

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Efficient QR Code Secret Embedding Mechanism Based on Hamming Code

Quick response (QR) codes are becoming pervasive due to their rapid readability and the popularity of smartphones with built-in cameras. QR codes are also gaining importance in the retail sector as a convenient mobile payment method. However, researchers have concerns regarding the security of QR codes, which leave users susceptible to financial loss or private information leakage. In this study, we addressed this issue by developing a novel QR code (called mQRCode), which exploits patterns presenting a specific spatial frequency as a form of camouflage. When the targeted receiver holds a camera in a designated position (e.g., directly in front at a distance of 30 cm from the camouflaged QR code), the original QR code is revealed in form of a Moire pattern. From any other position, only the camouflaged QR code can be seen. In experiments, the decryption rate of mQRCode was > 98.6% within 10.2 frames via a multi-frame decryption method. The decryption rate for cameras positioned 20° off axis or > 10cm away from the designated location dropped to 0%, indicating that mQRCode is robust against attacks.

mQRCode: Secure QR Code Using Nonlinearity of Spatial Frequency in Light

QR code (quick response code) is used due to its beneficial properties, especially in the mobile payment field. However, there exists an inevitable risk in the transaction process. It is not easily perceived that the attacker tampers with or replaces the QR code that contains merchant’s beneficiary account. Thus, it is of great urgency to conduct authentication of QR code. In this study, we propose a novel mechanism based on visual cryptography scheme (VCS) and aesthetic QR code, which contains three primary schemes for different concealment levels. The main steps of these schemes are as follows. Firstly, one original QR code is split into two shadows using VC multiple rules; secondly, the two shadows are embedded into the same background image, respectively, and the embedded results are fused with the same carrier QR code, respectively, using XOR mechanism of RS and QR code error correction mechanism. Finally, the two aesthetic QR codes can be stacked precisely and the original QR code is restored according to the defined VCS. Experiments corresponding to three proposed schemes are conducted and demonstrate the feasibility and security of the mobile payment authentication, the significant improvement of the concealment for the shadows in QR code, and the diversity of mobile payment authentication.

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Multiple Schemes for Mobile Payment Authentication Using QR Code and Visual Cryptography

Recently, more and more research has focused on the beautification technology of QR (Quick Response) codes. In this paper, a novel algorithm based on the XOR (exclusive OR) mechanism of hybrid basis vector matrices and a background image synthetic strategy is proposed. The hybrid basis vector matrices include the reverse basis vector matrix (RBVM) and positive basis vector matrix (PBVM). Firstly, the RBVM and PBVM are obtained by the Gauss–Jordan elimination method, according to the characteristics of the RS code. Secondly, the modification of the parity area of the QR code can be applied with the XOR operation of the RBVM, and the XOR operation of the PBVM is used to change the data area of the QR code. So, the QR code can be modified to be very close to the background image without impacting the error-correction ability. Finally, in order to further decrease the difference between the QR code and the background image, a new synthesis strategy is adopted in order to obtain a better aesthetic effect. The experimental results show that it obtains a better visual effect without the sacrificing recognition rate.

A Novel Aesthetic QR Code Algorithm Based on Hybrid Basis Vector Matrices

To enhance bike-share service authentication, we propose two novel schemes based on aesthetic QR code combining XOR-based visual cryptography scheme (XVCS). In Scheme I, aesthetic QR code based on error correction mechanism and XVCS are combined for authentication. In comparison, Scheme II exploits aesthetic QR code based on XOR mechanism of RS with Positive Basis Vector Matrix (PBVM) and XVCS. The larger region of secret information and the better visual appearance of aesthetic QR code are shown in experiments.

Zaorang Yang

Papers

Multiple Schemes for Mobile Payment Authentication Using QR Code and Visual Cryptography

A Novel Aesthetic QR Code Algorithm Based on Hybrid Basis Vector Matrices

Novel Schemes for Bike-Share Service Authentication Using Aesthetic QR Code and Color Visual Cryptography