A lightweight image encryption technique for IoT applications using cellular automata

Abstract Digital images are integral to communication in the contemporary multimedia landscape, particularly within the rapidly expanding Internet of Things (IoT) domain. The widespread transmission of such data underscores the critical need for robust security measures, especially when sensitive information is involved. Ensuring data protection in IoT systems presents significant challenges due to the limited memory and processing capabilities of sensor devices, which render conventional encryption techniques impractical. Cellular Automata (CA) offer a promising alternative for securing IoT devices, as they inherently generate complex patterns and pseudo-random sequences suitable for resource-constrained environments. Furthermore, the straightforward hardware implementation of CA enhances its applicability to IoT contexts. This paper introduces LECA, an IoT-oriented block cipher based on Programmable Cellular Automata (PCA). Comprehensive evaluation demonstrates that the proposed cipher produces encrypted images exhibiting high randomness, as validated by statistical analyses using the NIST and DIEHARD test suites. The security of LECA is further assessed against various attack vectors through correlation, entropy, and differential analyses. Experimental results indicate that LECA achieves higher efficiency than existing block ciphers, highlighting its potential as a secure, computationally efficient solution for resource-limited IoT devices. This research addresses the pressing need for secure data transmission in IoT applications by presenting LECA. This practical encryption method leverages the intrinsic properties of Cellular Automata to deliver strong security while minimizing resource consumption.