Secure image exchange over cloud networks with neural key exchange protocol

In this article, a novel image encryption algorithm is proposed for the secure transmission and storage of images over the cloud. The robustness of Tree Parity Machines (TPMs) is utilized in conjunction with DNA coding, Mersenne Twister-based DNA sequence generation, SHA-512 seeded Rule 30 Cellular Automata (CA), and S-box construction to achieve comprehensive multi-layered image encryption. The encryption process is initiated through the use of TPMs, which are employed to facilitate secure key exchange among users communicating over the cloud. The weight vectors of the TPMs are utilized as an initial shared symmetric key, and through iterative weight synchronization, the final weights are evolved into the actual encryption keys. DNA coding is then applied as the first layer of encryption. The corresponding DNA sequences are generated using the Mersenne Twister, which is employed as a Pseudo-Random Number Generator (PRNG). Subsequently, the SHA-512 hashing function is used to generate a seed for Rule 30 Cellular Automata, which is further utilized to construct another PRNG. This newly generated PRNG is applied as an additional key in an XOR operation with the image data, thereby providing an extra layer of security. The same CA-based PRNG is also used to construct an S-box, which is applied in the final encryption stage. Excellent results in terms of security, resistance to attacks, and computational efficiency are demonstrated through performance evaluation. The algorithm is shown to possess strong potential for secure and efficient real-time multimedia transmission and storage over the cloud. A significant advancement in secure cloud-based image communication is offered through the integration of TPMs, DNA coding, and CA in this unique encryption scheme. Moreover, quantitative evaluation further confirms the robustness of the proposed scheme, achieving encrypted image entropy of 7.99904, a high NPCR of [Formula: see text] and a UACI of [Formula: see text], reflecting strong sensitivity to plain text variations, while maintaining an MSE of 10141.88 and PSNR of 8.11 dB.