A New Method for Ciphering a Message Using QR Code
Sawsan K. Thamer, Basheer N. Ameen · 2016
In this paper, we have introduced a new data-hiding algorithm, where message is converted to QR code (Quick Response Code) and generate QR for mask (Key). QR Codes are mainly used to carry or store messages because they have higher or large storage capacity than any other normal conventional ‘barcodes’. In the present work the authors have introduced the encryption technique by XORing part (series of bits) of QR message with the same part of QR mask (key) to encrypt any message and then embedding the key into the resulted QR. The resulted QR code may be sent to destination or may be saved for future use. In this encryption method authors have used bit-manipulation, byte-reshuffling and generalized this method. The ciphering method used here has been tested on different plain texts and it was found that the method is unbreakable using traditional cryptanalysis techniques like frequency analysis, plain-text attack, Differential attack, Brute-force attack, etc. The data is encrypted using a symmetric key method, then inserted in QR code, so that data cannot be easily retrieved without adequate authorization / permission.