Lightweight HECC-DWT-based secure image encryption with integrity verification and access control

This paper presents a secure and lightweight image encryption framework combining Hyperelliptic Curve Cryptography (HECC) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) for optical images. The proposed method begins with HECC-based key generation, ensuring efficient encryption using compact key sizes. The image undergoes ASCII conversion, followed by encryption using the recipient’s public key. To enhance security, DWT is applied, embedding encrypted data in the frequency domain, followed by inverse DWT reconstruction. SHA-2 hashing ensures integrity verification, preventing unauthorized modifications. Decryption is performed using HECC, restoring the original image upon hash verification. A Boolean search mechanism also enables efficient retrieval of encrypted images, while proxy re-encryption facilitates dynamic key updates. The proposed system ensures lightweight, secure, and efficient optical image encryption.