A biometric authentication system is more convenient and secure than graphical or textual passwords when accessing information systems. Unfortunately, biometric authentication systems have the disadvantage of being susceptible to spoofing attacks. Authentication schemes based on biometrics, including face recognition, are susceptible to spoofing. This paper proposes an image encryption scheme to counter spoofing attacks by integrating it into the pipeline of Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) based face recognition. The encryption scheme uses XOR pixels substitution and cellular automata for scrambling. A single key is used to encrypt the training and testing datasets in LDA face recognition system. For added security, the encryption step requires input images of faces to be encrypted with the correct key before the system can recognize the images. An LDA face recognition scheme based on random forest classifiers has achieved 96.25% accuracy on ORL dataset in classifying encrypted test face images. In a test where original test face images were not encrypted with keys used for encrypted feature databases, the system achieved 8.75% accuracy only showing it is capable of resisting spoofing attacks.

This article aims to promote a theoretical framework for designing an educational website based on scientific standards for non-native Arabic speakers to improve their abilities and performance in learning Arabic language. As Arabic language is commonly known as the language of Holy Quran and is the language of Prophet Muhammad (last of the prophets), so it is considered as one of the oldest languages in the world. In addition, it is widely used around the world and is the spoken language of the Arab states in the Middle East and North Africa. So, increasing the number of people who show their desires to learn Arabic language as a second language leads to build various online educational approaches. But based on previous studies, many educational websites are not built based on scientific standards, which affect students’ academic performance; therefore, there is an emergency demand to promote the theoretical framework for designing an educational website based on scientific standards to facilitate language acquisition and help non-native Arabic speakers to overcome the difficulties that they face in learning Arabic language.

The Sultanate of Oman is one of the first countries in the Middle East to utilize technology in the management of the education process. Over time, education data have accumulated, and at the present, large volumes of data with numerous types of statistics have been collected as operational data. This research article takes the advantage of these data and applied predictive data mining approaches to study the performance of general education diploma students (year 12 of school). The decision tree as a classification method has been applied and a prediction model is constructed with ability to show relatively high accuracy of students’ performance prior to year 12 of school, using 30% test data of nearly 6000 student’s records. The significant variables that influence students’ performance are identified which would help stakeholders and decision makers plan ahead and have more time to prepare for decisions.

This study focuses on Kazakhstan's place in the global digital economy and offers a machine learning-based framework for evaluating preparedness for digital adaptation. To categories countries into three maturity groups—Digital Leaders, Transition Economies, and Digital Late Adopters. This study used principal component analysis (PCA) and K-Means clustering on a synthesized dataset of digital transformation proxies, which included mobile penetration, broadband access, e-government development, and innovation scores. Kazakhstan was regularly classified as a Transition Economy, suggesting moderate advancement in policy innovation and digital infrastructure. The results of this study are encouraging, with a 69% accurate Decision Tree classifier with high precision in identifying Digital Leaders, which was developed to predict readiness class with GDP. However, its susceptibility to distinguishing middle- and lower-tier economies implies the sophistication of digital transformation beyond economic stature. These results offer a data-driven path for moving Kazakhstan closer to digital maturity through focused investments, structural reforms, and insightful information on Kazakhstan's strategic location.

Systems using biometric authentication offer greater security than traditional textual and graphical password-based systems for granting access to information systems. Although biometric-based authentication has its benefits, it can be vulnerable to spoofing attacks. Those vulnerabilities are inherent to any biometric-based subsystem, including face recognition systems. The problem of spoofing attacks on face recognition systems is addressed here by integrating a newly developed image encryption model onto the principal component pipeline. A new model of image encryption is based on a cellular automaton and Gray Code. By encrypting the entire ORL faces dataset, the image encryption model is integrated into the face recognition system’s authentication pipeline. In order for the system to grant authenticity, input face images must be encrypted with the correct key before being classified, since the entire feature database is encrypted with the same key. The face recognition model correctly identified test encrypted faces from an encrypted features database with 92.5% accuracy. A sample of randomly chosen samples from the ORL dataset was used to test the encryption performance. Results showed that encryption and the original ORL faces have different histograms and weak correlations. On the tested encrypted ORL face images, NPCR values exceeded 99%, MAE minimum scores were over (>40), and GDD values exceeded (0.92). Key space is determined by where A₀ represents the original scrambling lattice size, and u is determined by the variables on the encryption key. In addition, a NPCR test was performed between images encrypted with slightly different keys to test key sensitivity. The values of the NPCR were all above 96% in all cases.

It is crucial to select the right machine learning classifier for image classification and face recog-nition. This study examines the effectiveness of four different face recognition classifiers - Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forest, K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Neural Networks. An analysis of the Large Faces in the Wild (LFW) dataset was carried out using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Classifiers are rigorously trained and evaluated based on the extracted features. Comparison of classifier performance is an insightful way to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. Having a visual representation of the classifier's performance gives a complete understanding of its capabilities. Through the selection of the most appropriate classifier, study results contribute to advancements in image classification, recognition, and biometric identification. The comparison study demonstrated that the Neural Network classifier was exceptionally accurate and proficient in recognizing faces from the LFW dataset when used in conjunction with PCA for feature extraction. According to the comparative analysis, the Neural Network classifier proved exceptionally accurate and proficient at identifying faces from the LFW dataset when combined with PCA for feature extraction.