Reversible secret-image sharing with high visual quality

This paper proposes a reversible secret-image sharing scheme for sharing a secret image among 2n shadow images with high visual quality (i.e., they are visually indistinguishable from their original images, respectively). In the proposed scheme, not only can the secret image be completely revealed, but the original cover images can also be losslessly recovered. A difference value between neighboring pixels in a secret image is shared by 2n pixels in 2n shadow images, respectively, where n?≥?1. A pair of shadow images which are constructed from the same cover image are called brother stego-images. To decrease pixel values changed in shadow images, each pair of brother stego-images is assigned a weighted factor when calculating difference values to be shared. A pixel in a cover image is recovered by calculating the average of corresponding pixels in its brother stego-images. A single stego-image reveals nothing and a pair of pixels in brother stego-images reveals partial difference value between neighboring secret pixels. The more brother stego-images are collected, the more information in the secret image will be revealed. Finally, a secret image will be completely revealed if all of its brother stego-images are collected.     

结合调整差值变换的(K,N)有意义图像分存方案

目的 针对传统有意义分存方法存在的像素扩张和分发掩体图像视觉质量不高等问题,提出一种结合调整差值变换的(K,N)有意义图像分存方案,该方案可用于与掩体等大且同为自然图像的密图分存.方法 在分存阶段,首先用调整差值变换将密图转换为差值图和位置图;其次将差值图和位置图进行(K,N)分存,分别嵌入到掩体图像中,并使用密钥确定位置图分存信息的嵌入位置和根据位置图中不同的差值类型选择不同的差值嵌入方法;再次对密钥进行(K,N)分存,将子密钥和分发掩体对应的MD5值公布到第3方公信方作为认证码;最后将子密钥和分发掩体分发给参与者进行保管.在恢复阶段,首先核对参与者的子密钥和分发掩体对应的MD5值,若认证通过的人数小于K,则恢复失败;否则,使用认证通过的子密钥还原出密钥,然后根据密钥提取并恢复出位置图;其次根据位置图中的差值类型来提取和恢复出差值图;最后使用逆调整差值变换还原出最终密图.结果 同现有方法相比,所提策略不存在像素扩张且分发掩体图像视觉质量较高,具有较强的恶意参与者检测能力.结论 本文方法的掩体图像与密图等大且同为自然图像,同经典有意义图像分存方案相比,克服了像素扩张问题,嵌入信息后的掩体图像具有较高的视觉质量,使用第3方公信方存储的MD5值作为认证码,具有较强的恶意参与者识别能力.     

Reversible secret image sharing scheme in encrypted images

The previous secret image sharing schemes did not provide a copyright and privacy for cover images. The reason is that a dealer selects a cover image by itself and embeds directly the secret data into the cover image. In this paper, a reversible secret image sharing scheme in encrypted images is proposed in order to provide the copyright and privacy of the cover image. We divide a role of the dealer into an image provider and a data hider. The image provider encrypts the cover image and transmits the encrypted image to the data hider, and the standard stream cipher as one-time pad (OTP) with a random secret key is used. The data hider embeds the secret data into the encrypted image, and the encrypted shadow images are transmitted to the corresponding participant. We utilize the polynomial arithmetic operation over GF(2⁸) during the sharing of the encrypted shadow images, and the coefficient of the highest-order term is fixed to one in order to prevent the overflow and the security problem. In the reconstruction procedure, the secret data can be extracted and the cover image can be reconstructed exactly from t or more encrypted shadow images with Lagrange interpolation. In experimental results, the proposed method shows that the PSNR is sustained close to 44 dB regardless of the embedding capacity, where the embedding capacity is 524,288 bits on average.     

A hierarchical threshold secret image sharing

In the traditional secret image sharing schemes, the shadow images are generated by embedding the secret data into the cover image such that a sufficient number of shadow images can cooperate to reconstruct the secret image. In the process of reconstruction, each shadow image plays an equivalent role. However, a general threshold access structure could have other useful properties for the application. In this paper, we consider the problem of secret shadow images with a hierarchical threshold structure, employing Tassa’s hierarchical secret sharing to propose a hierarchical threshold secret image sharing scheme. In our scheme, the shadow images are partitioned into several levels, and the threshold access structure is determined by a sequence of threshold requirements. If and only if the shadow images involved satisfy the threshold requirements, the secret image can be reconstructed without distortion.     

Progressive sharing for a secret image

Based on the wavelet transform, a new progressive sharing scheme is proposed to share a secret image into several shadow images using SPIHT encoding processes and Shamir’s threshold scheme. Quality refinement of the recovered image is achieved by the data consumed from the threshold number (r) of shadow images and each single shadow image reveals no information about the secret image. The size of each shadow image is smaller than 1/r of the secret image and any number of shadow images that is less than r reveals no information about the secret image. The proposed approach is secure for image sharing and provides excellent peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) versus rate performance. Experimental results have demonstrated the promising performance of this method in progressive sharing.     

Sharing and hiding secret images with size constraint

This paper presents a method for sharing and hiding secret images. The method is modified from the (t,n) threshold scheme. (Comput.Graph. 26(5)(2002)765) The given secret image is shared and n shadow images are thus generated. Each shadow image is hidden in an ordinary image so as not to attract an attacker's attention. Any t of the n hidden shadows can be used to recover the secret image. The size of each stego image (in which a shadow image is hidden) is about 1/t of that of the secret image, avoiding the need for much storage space and transmission time (in the sense that the total size of t stego images is about the size of the secret image). Experimental results indicate that the qualities of both the recovered secret image and the stego images that contain the hidden shadows are acceptable. The photographers who work in enemy areas can use this system to transmit photographs.     

A lightweight authenticable visual secret sharing scheme based on turtle shell structure matrix

This paper proposes a novel visual secret sharing scheme based on a turtle shell structure matrix (TSSM) with reversibility and lightweight authentication. With the assistance of TSSM, the secret data is embedded into the original cover image and three meaningful shadow images are generated. To increase the image quality of the generated shadows, the proposed scheme designs an embedding structure that will be used to embed a secret image into shadows based on the TSSM, rather than by directly embedding authentication codes. The designed embedding structure offers a robust authentication capability at the cost of lightweight computation. Moreover, the hidden secret data can be extracted completely and the cover image can be restored losslessly through the collaboration of the three received shadows. Experimental results, on various grayscale test images, confirmed that our proposed scheme provides high visual quality and excellent authentication.

     

Visual secret sharing scheme for (<Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>) threshold based on QR code with multiple decryptions

In this paper, a novel visual secret sharing (VSS) scheme based on QR code (VSSQR) with (k, n) threshold is investigated. Our VSSQR exploits the error correction mechanism in the QR code structure, to generate the bits corresponding to shares (shadow images) by VSS from a secret bit in the processing of encoding QR. Each output share is a valid QR code that can be scanned and decoded utilizing a QR code reader, which may reduce the likelihood of attracting the attention of potential attackers. Due to different application scenarios, two different recovered ways of the secret image are given. The proposed VSS scheme based on QR code can visually reveal secret image with the abilities of stacking and XOR decryptions as well as scan every shadow image, i.e., a QR code, by a QR code reader. The secret image could be revealed by human visual system without any computation based on stacking when no lightweight computation device. On the other hand, if the lightweight computation device is available, the secret image can be revealed with better visual quality based on XOR operation and could be lossless revealed when sufficient shares are collected. In addition, it can assist alignment for VSS recovery. The experiment results show the effectiveness of our scheme.     

Aspect ratio invariant visual cryptography by image filtering and resizing

In visual cryptographic scheme (VCS), each secret pixel is expanded to m subpixels in shadow images to encrypt a secret image. Apparently, we should put these m subpixels as a rectangle such that the blocks can be arranged compactly with each other. However, if the aspect ratio is viewed as important information of the secret image, the distortion occurs at the case that m is not a square. An aspect ratio invariant VCS (ARIVCS) was accordingly proposed to address the arrangement of subpixels. However, the existing ARIVCSs relied on adding dummy subpixels to the shadow images. In addition, their method needs a mapping pattern that reduces the number of dummy subpixels, but how to design a mapping pattern is a huge challenge. In this paper, we propose an easy solution to construct ARIVCS by image filtering and resizing.     

A secure Boolean-based multi-secret image sharing scheme

An (n, n) multi-secret image sharing scheme shares n secret images among n shared images. In this type of schemes, n shared images can be used to recover all n secret images, but the loss of any shared image prevents the recovery of any secret image. Among existing image sharing techniques, Boolean-based secret schemes have good performance because they only require XOR calculation. This study presents a secure Boolean-based secret image sharing scheme that uses a random image generating function to generate a random image from secret images or shared images. The proposed function efficiently increases the sharing capacity on free of sharing the random image. The use of a bit shift subfunction in the random image generating function produces a random image to meet the random requirement. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme requires minimal CPU computation time to share or recover secret images. The time required to share n secret images is nearly the time as that required to recover n secret images. The bit shift subfunction takes more computation load than the XOR subfunction needs.     

基于恢复函数和误差扩散的灰度图像分存方案

基于((n,n)-阈值的灰度图像分存方案利用恢复函数和误差扩散技术将一张秘密灰度图像分存到n张有意义的灰度分存图像中。所提方案选择n张有意义的灰度图像作为分存图像,以增强秘密图像的隐蔽性,达到保护图像信息安全的目的;采用误差扩散技术,可以产生具有良好视觉质量的分存图像。所生成的分存图像没有像素膨胀,其大小与秘密图像相等。此外,方案的重构过程简单快速,而且是无损的。实验结果和理论分析表明,所提方案能为秘密图像分存提供一个高安全和有效的机制。     

Verifiable quantum (k, n)-threshold secret sharing

In a conventional quantum (k, n) threshold scheme, a trusted party shares a quantum secret with n agents such that any k or more agents can cooperate to recover the original secret, while fewer than k agents obtain no information about the secret. Is the reconstructed quantum secret same with the original one? Or is the dishonest agent willing to provide a true share during the secret reconstruction? In this paper we reexamine the security of quantum (k, n) threshold schemes and show how to construct a verifiable quantum (k, n) threshold scheme by combining a qubit authentication process. The novelty of ours is that it can provide a mechanism for checking whether the reconstructed quantum secret is same with the original one. This mechanism can also attain the goal of checking whether the dishonest agent provides a false quantum share during the secret reconstruction such that the secret quantum state cannot be recovered correctly.     

A novel secret image sharing scheme in color images using small shadow images

Over the past several years, secret image sharing techniques have become another branch of the effort to prevent secret images from being eavesdropped on, in addition to traditional cryptography. Because smaller shadows can speed up the transmission of a secret color image, in this paper we combine Chang and Wu’s gradual search algorithm for a single bitmap BTC (GSBTC) and Shamir’s (k, n) threshold concept to propose a novel secret color image sharing scheme that generates smaller shadows. Experimental results confirm that the proposed scheme successfully reduces shadow size and that each shadow behaves as a random-like image that prevents leakage of information about the secret color image. Furthermore, the correlation between two vertically or horizontally adjacent pixels in each shadow is significantly less than those in a color secret image, and the presented scheme also achieves, on average, an NPCR = 0.414% and AUCI = 32.78%. Thus, with our scheme one-pixel difference could cause a significant difference in the corresponding shadows. Therefore, the security of the presented scheme is also confirmed.     

一种高效的(t,n)门限可视密码方案

首先提出了一种多秘密共享方案,该方案共享t个多重秘密,需要计算t个联立方程。然后基于多秘密共享的思想,提出了一种新的(t,n)门限可视密码方案。该方案把一幅秘密图像分割成t幅子秘密图像,每幅子秘密图像是原始图像的1/t;然后再由t幅子秘密图像计算出n幅共享图像,秘密送给n个参与者,其中每个共享图像与子秘密图像同样大小。使得任意t个或更多的参与者合作能够恢复原始秘密图像,而任意少于t个参与者却得不到有关原始图像的任何信息。另外,恢复的图像和秘密图像完全一样,没有任何失真。新方案安全、有效,是一种完备的(t,n)门限方案,适用于把黑白、灰度、彩色图像作为秘密进行共享。     

A general (k, n) scalable secret image sharing scheme with the smooth scalability

A novel (k, n) scalable secret image sharing (SSIS) scheme was proposed to encrypt a secret image into n shadow images. One can gradually reconstruct a secret image by stacking k or more shadows, but he/she cannot conjecture any information from fewer than k shadows. The advantage of a (k, n)-SSIS scheme is that it provides the threshold property (i.e., k is a threshold value necessary to start in to reveal the secret) as well as the scalability (i.e., the information amount of a reconstructed secret is proportional to the number of shadows used in decryption). All previous (k, n)-SSIS schemes did not have the smooth scalability so that the information amount can be “smoothly” proportional to the number of shadows. In this paper, we consider the smooth scalability in (k, n)-SSIS scheme.     

Greyscale-images-oriented progressive secret sharing based on the linear congruence equation

Secret image sharing (SIS) can be applied to protect a secret image when the secret is transmitted in public channels. However, classic SIS schemes, e.g., visual secret sharing (VSS) and Shamir’s polynomial-based scheme, are not suitable for progressive encryption of greyscale images, because they will lead to many problems, such as “All-or-Nothing”, lossy recovery, complex computations and so on. Based on the linear congruence equation, three novel progressive secret sharing (PSS) schemes are proposed to overcome these problems: (k, k) threshold LCSS and (k, n) threshold LCPSS aim to achieve general threshold progressive secret sharing with simple computations. Furthermore, extended LCPSS (ELCPSS) is developed to generate meaningful shadow images, which enable simple management and misleading the enemy. Both theoretical proofs and experimental results are given to demonstrate the validity of the proposed scheme.     

基于CRT的无损高效门限彩色图像秘密共享信息隐藏算法

目前对秘密图像共享的研究主要集中在灰度图像上,而日常生活中使用的图像大多是彩色的,因此,研究彩色图像的秘密共享具有重要的意义和应用价值.该方案将基于中国剩余定理(CRT)的秘密共享与DCT信息隐藏技术进行结合,保障了传输彩色秘密图像的安全性.在生成端,利用DCT信息隐藏算法将彩色秘密图像通过CRT生成的彩色秘密影子图像...     

多重秘密共享的DCT域二值图像隐藏方案

研究了一种新的二值图像隐藏方案,即将一幅二值图像隐藏在多幅载体图像中。针对二值图像取值形式为 二值的特点,该方案第一次把变长游程编码算法、多重秘密共享思想和IX了1域的信息隐藏算法结合在一起,并根据载 体图像的最大隐藏信息量把秘密图像游程长度序列分成n块,由n个密钥控制并分别隐藏在n幅载体图像中。实验 表明,该算法在不明显引入修改痕迹的情况下,可显著提高安全性和鲁棒性,并且可以无损还原。     

An efficient (<Emphasis Type="Italic">t</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>)–threshold secret image sharing scheme

We propose a novel (t,n)–threshold secret image sharing scheme based on Shamir’s polynomial interpolation paradigm. The proposed scheme is a derivative of Thien and Lin’s (Computers & Graphics 26(5):765–770, [13]) and some of its variants by ensuring less intrusive changes in the secret image. This is achieved by cyclically shifting the bits of the secret image, thus allowing a modification in the least significant bit to have a large effect on the values used in computation of shadow images. Statistical tests and simulations are presented to show the efficiency and robustness of the proposed scheme, in particular good randomness of shadow images, little correlation between adjacent pixels, and high entropy. Competence of the proposed scheme is further demonstrated by means of comparison with existing schemes.     

Distortion-free secret image sharing mechanism using modulus operator

The (t, n)-threshold has been extended to secret image sharing due to its practicability. In this article, we provide a novel version that employs the modulus operator to embed the secret share into a host image. The simulator shows that the modulus operator is useful for decreasing shadow image distortion. Using Rabin's signature cryptosystem, participants can detect if a cheater exists in the cooperation. In particular, the new mechanism permits involved members to restore a lossless secret image and to reconstruct a distortion-free host image.