# SecureVision: An Open-Source User-Customizable Image Encryption Program
###### Abstract  
Data security has become indispensable, with a view to keep sensitive information confidential. One important method is through image encryption, upon which features in an image would no longer be visible. The original image with its features could only be restored upon decryption using a set of keys. There are prestigious works in the literature regarding image encryption. However, there is a lack of easy-to-use, GUI-based, user-customizable computer programs for image encryption. In the present work, we developed a GUI-based image encryption and decryption program with server file transfer support, namely, SecureVision. A custom-made random number generator using the equation of an ellipse was developed to randomly shuffle the pixel positions. SecureVision was found to be robust, user-friendly and fast in both encryption and decryption. The program was highly sensitive to the supplied keys, which prevented brute-force attacks. SecureVision provided full user control, where users could modify the program modules to match their desired applications, which was particularly desirable for pedagogical purposes in that interested parties had the freedom to explore the concept of image encryption and decryption. SecureVision is distributed under a GPLv3 license, which would allow everyone to use, modify and distribute the program without any restriction. image encryption; data protection; open-source program; software; random numbers +
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blocks which were then shuffled to encrypt the image. In another study [18], an interesting approach using a skew-tent chaotic map was used for image encryption, without the need of changing the pixel information. The pixel bit method based on the chaotic map was previously investigated [19], which used a single chaos map to evenly distribute the pixel values from 0 to 255. The algorithm was found promising in terms of large key space and hiding ability. In another study, [PERSON] et al. [20] introduced an enhancement to the tent map by hybridizing it with the deterministic finite state machine, which aimed to maximize the diffusion and confusion properties of the encryption technique. The random scrambling of pixel data through position shuffling was also studied [21], and the results were found promising. Recently, [PERSON] et al. [22] used the elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) to develop a public key image encryption method, which was shown to be highly secured against statistical analysis attacks. In another recent study [23], an improved AES algorithm based on the use of synchronized dynamic keys was introduced. Conventional AES cryptosystems used a static key that should be kept private. Upon introducing the synchronization concept, a dynamic and random key would replace the traditional static key, which significantly enhanced the security of encrypted images. [PERSON] et al. [24] introduced a novel chaos-based image encryption method through the use of DNA-encoding and plaintext permutations. This work proposed an interesting concept in which the plain image was encoded into a nucleotide sequence. The authors demonstrated an assuring security performance of their proposed method that could enhance the digital image security. Apart from these studies, various other methods were proposed, and interested readers are referred to References [25; 26; 27] and references therein for more information. Many conventional encryption techniques such as the AES algorithm are very useful. For example, [PERSON] and [PERSON] developed a GUI-based image encryption program on the secured TFTP protocol and employed the AES algorithm for encryption [28]. However, many of these techniques are sophisticated, which presents a challenge for students and young researchers in the field.