Securing digital certificates with perceptual hashing and JSON web tokens

In medical imaging, insurance claims, intelligence systems, forensic investigation, criminal investigation, and journalism, digital pictures are playing a bigger role. Nevertheless, it is tough to determine if photos are real or not in the sense that freely available editing programs could be the only thing that makes changes to them. This study introduces an exclusive technique that utilizes JSON Web Tokens (JWT) and perceptual hashing (P-hashing) to find picture manipulation. The prescribed method passes the picture’s P-hash value within the JWT’s payload part, which is later encrypted with the ES512 algorithm and secp521r1 curve for securing and is included in the picture data. Using the transmitter’s public key, the receiver decrypts the JWT and calculates a new P-hash on the other end to affirm the picture’s authenticity. In case the new computed hash differs from the one in the JWT data, the picture has been changed. This method is rapid and can be used without block chain; hence, it brings a safe and offline way of verifying the picture’s existence. It is also possible to match the calculated hash against the data of known hashes when it comes to higher security. Furthermore, the detailed analysis of the method considered in the study and its comparison with other picture duplication recognition technologies are also part of the paper, such as deep learning techniques. The results demonstrate that the combination of P-hashing and JWT is a perfect solution if the customer is tired of the well-known authentication technologies that are implemented in the digital photo and pdf industries.