Quantum noise-based visual encryption for high-security government imagery

In a time of mounting cyber attacks and heightened use of digital imagery in governmental undertakings, the confidentiality and integrity of visual information are of utmost concern. Conventional methods of encryption, although effective in a partial manner, are becoming ever-poised to be broken by advanced attacks, considering advances in quantum computing. This research paper presents a novel visual encryption system using quantum noise which involves the application of quantum noise as a cryptographic feature in order to encrypt sensitive government images. In the process of encryption by the introduction of simulated quantum noise patterns the technique introduces a high degree of uncertainty and randomness into the image that significantly increases the security of the image against the classical and quantum attacking algorithms. The system proposed is tested using critical metrics such as Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), time of encryption, and resilience against different types of attack models. Early indication is that quantum noise-based visual encryption is superior in security while maintaining the quality of the image, thus a suitable candidate for high-security governmental uses. This research prepares ground for future work in practical quantum-based security methods to secure critical visualization information.