Enhance Image Encryption by Hybridization Metaheuristic Methods and Chaotic Maps
Mays Afif Anaee · Iraqi Journal for Computers and Informatics · 2026
The study evaluates the encryption based on advances for safeguarding personal and sensitive data include in or associated with various types of images, by applying chaotic maps to strengthen data security. A new hybrid method for encrypting digital images has been proposed depending on combining chaotic map and Metaheuristic algorithms to enhance encryption process. Metaheuristic algorithms are used to increase encryption by generating secure random keys depending on Genetic Algorithm and Particle Swarm Optimization, the secure random keys ranging 0-255. These algorithms create strong encryption keys by optimizing randomness, unpredictability, and entropy, which are essential for secure cryptography. As a result, generating secure random keys by Metaheuristic algorithms could be a good candidate strategy notably in encryption applications. Subsequently, it has been added to images encrypted in chaotic maps to boost the security image. Significantly, the MSE, PSNR, entropy, histogram, NPCR, UACI, and Correlation Coefficient which offers a guidance for the examination of encryption efficiency. Finally, this approach provides a high-performance security level because this algorithm leads to a larger MSE and lesser PSNR values because the mean effective encryption of the encrypted image doesn't resemble the original, making it difficult for attackers to retrieve information. Furthermore, the entropy value reached 7.9994.