Adaptive lightweight cryptographic framework for data transmission using multi-domain transformations

Cryptography has evolved as a cornerstone in data security, encrypting information to prevent unauthorized access. However, when newer technologies emerge, old cryptographic approaches face new hurdles in preserving data secrecy, integrity, and validity. The rapid increase of digital data and communication channels has resulted in a paradigm shift in how information is shared, stored, and accessed. This digital transition has increased exposure to cyber threats, underlining the necessity for strong data security procedures Cryptography, as the science of secure communication, is critical for protecting sensitive information. However, growing threats and evolving technology pose difficulties to traditional cryptographic algorithms, prompting the development of novel approaches to improve data security. Data security in modern communication systems is paramount, with sensitive information requiring robust encryption and secure transmission. Recent statistics highlight a 34% rise in data breaches over the last two years and an estimated global loss of $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 due to cybercrime. Existing cryptographic methods often face challenges in balancing computational efficiency, encryption robustness, and adaptability to multi-domain operations. To address these gaps, this paper proposes a novel multi-layered security framework. Initially, the message is split into two segments. The first segment undergoes encryption using the Authenticated Encryption and Hashing Lightweight Cryptographic (AEHLC) algorithm, ensuring lightweight and efficient protection. The second segment is secured using the Cryptographic Suite for Algebraic Lattices with Digital Signatures (CSAL-DS) algorithm, leveraging advanced lattice-based cryptographic structures. Both encrypted segments are concatenated for comprehensive security. Further, a Dual-Domain Contourlet and Shearlet Transform (DDCST) is employed for watermarking the cover and source images, enhancing the integration of visual security. Lastly, Graph Fourier Transform (GFT) is utilized to embed the encrypted message within the watermarked image, completing the steganographic process. This methodology not only fortifies data confidentiality and integrity but also ensures high imperceptibility and robustness against steganalysis and cryptographic attacks.