Efficient image encryption algorithm using DNA approach

DNA computing is a new computational field which harnesses the immense parallelism, high density information and low power dissipation that brings probable challenges and opportunities to conventional cryptography. In recent years, many image encryption algorithms have been proposed using DNA solicit but many are not secure as such. In this regard, this paper proposes an improved and efficient algorithm to encrypt a grayscale image of any size based on DNA sequence addition operation. The original image is encrypted into two phases. In the first phase, the intermediate cipher is obtained by addition of the DNA sequence matrix and masking matrix. In the second phase, pixel values are scrambled to make it more robust. In this way the original image is encrypted. The results of simulated experiment and security analysis of the proposed image encryption algorithm, evaluated from histogram analysis and key sensitivity analysis, depicts that scheme not only can attain good encryption but can also hinder exhaustive attack and statistical attack. Thus, results are passable.