# Secure Image Transmission Using Multilevel Chaotic Encryption and Video Steganography
###### Abstract  
The swift advancement of information and communication technology has made it increasingly difficult to guarantee the security of transmitted data. Traditional encryption techniques, particularly in multimedia applications, frequently fail to defend against sophisticated attacks, such as chosen-plaintext, differential, and statistical analysis attacks. More often than not, traditional cryptographic methods lack proper diffusion and sufficient randomness, which is why they are vulnerable to these types of attacks. By combining multi-level chaotic maps with Least Significant Bit (LSB) steganography and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption, this study proposes an improved security approach for picture transmission. A hybrid chaotic system dynamically creates the encryption keys, guaranteeing high unpredictability and resistance to brute-force attacks. Next, it incorporates the encrypted images into video frames, making it challenging to find the secret data. The suggested method demonstrates its resilience to statistical attacks by achieving entropy values over 7.99 and number of pixels change rate (NPCR) values above 99.63% in contrast to traditional encryption techniques, showing how resilient it is to statistical attacks. Our hybrid approach improves data secrecy and resistance to various cryptographic attacks. Experimental results confirm the efficiency of the suggested technique by achieving entropy values around 7.99, number of pixels change rate (NPCR) values above 99.63%, and unified average changing intensity (UACI) values over 31.98%, ensuring the secure transmission of sensitive images while maintaining video imperceptibility. AES encryption algorithm; chaotic maps; secure data transmission; steganography; video processing 202518406103390/18/04/06/02/18/04/06/02/0251840610390/18/One standard method is steganography [3], which is a process of hiding data in the bits of cover objects, like a graphic or an audio file. It provides a safe way to communicate privately because the presence of information in the cover item is challenging to detect [4]. Various companies use digital networks to safely and quickly distribute their patented digital objects to authentic purchasers [5]. Applications using steganography include digital activities in everyday life and image transmission in military, medical, and industrial fields. Protecting these images from possible threats is crucial. Image encryption is the most effective way to provide image security [6]. An encryption algorithm is an effective tool for maintaining information security. It makes information incomprehensible [7]. For instance, image encryption changes pixel locations (confusion) or pixel values (diffusion), where good ciphering is achieved when the result is similar to TV jamming. One public cryptography that is widely used in various applications, such as smart cards, cell phones, automated teller machines, and web servers, is the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) [8]. Several assessment standards, such as information entropy, correlation between neighboring pixels, number of pixels change rate (NPCR), and unified average changing intensity (UACI), must be considered while encrypting an image. If the values of these criteria match the intended expectancy, the method can resist statistical and differential attacks [9]. Furthermore, an image encryption method must have ample key space and be highly sensitive to the initial conditions to withstand brute-force attacks. The process also needs to be quick for real-time applications [10]. In the past few years, a serious interest has been shown in the applications of chaotic systems. There is growing considerable interest in using chaotic systems to construct secure encryption algorithms due to their sensitivity to the initial condition, parameters, and complex nonlinear dynamics [11].