Continuous advancements in digital image transmission technology within network environments have heightened the necessity for secure, convenient, and well-suited image encryption systems. Base64 encoding possesses the ability to convert raw data into printable ASCII characters, facilitating excellent stability transmission across various communication protocols. In this paper, base64 encoding is first used in image encryption to pursue high application value in network transmission. First, a novel one-dimensional discrete chaotic system (1D-LSCM) with complex chaotic behavior is introduced and extensively tested. Second, a new multi-image encryption algorithm based on the proposed 1D-LSCM and base64 encoding is presented. Technically, three original grayscale images are constructed as a color image and encoded in base64 characters. To purse high plaintext sensitivity, the original image is input to the SHA-256 hash function and its output is used to influence the generated keystream employed in the permutation and diffusion process. After scramble and diffusion operations, the base64 ciphertext is obtained. Finally, test results derived from comprehensive tests prove that our proposed algorithm has remarkable security and encryption efficiency.

Digital images have been widely applied in fields such as mobile devices, the Internet of Things, and medical imaging. Although significant progress has been made in image encryption technology, it still faces many challenges, such as attackers using powerful computing resources and advanced algorithms to crack encryption systems. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a novel image encryption algorithm based on one-dimensional sawtooth wave chaotic system (1D-SAW) and the three-strand structure of DNA. Firstly, a new 1D-SAW chaotic system was designed. By introducing nonlinear terms and periodic disturbances, this system is capable of generating chaotic sequences with high randomness and initial value sensitivity. Secondly, a new diffusion rule based on the three-strand structure of DNA is proposed. Compared with the traditional DNA encoding and XOR operation, this rule further enhances the complexity and anti-attack ability of the encryption process. Finally, the security and randomness of the 1D-SAW and image encryption algorithms were verified through various tests. Results show that this method exhibits better performance in resisting statistical attacks and differential attacks.

To address the limitations of existing chaotic systems such as complex structure and potential chaotic degradation, this paper proposes a novel four-dimensional discrete chaotic system (4D-DCS) and an image encryption algorithm based on it. The 4D-DCS is constructed by integrating a feedback controller and modulo operation into a linear discrete-time system, featuring a simple structure without the need for intricate matrix reconstruction or memristor circuits. Mathematical analysis confirms its chaos in the sense of Li–Yorke and numerical simulations including Lyapunov exponent (LE) analysis, 0–1 test, and NIST SP 800-22 test demonstrate its hyperchaotic characteristics and excellent pseudorandomness. Based on the 4D-DCS, the proposed encryption algorithm employs SHA-256 to generate initial states for key uniqueness, combines row–column permutation to disrupt pixel correlation, and adopts a reversible neural network for diffusion to enhance confusion capability. Comprehensive security analysis shows that the algorithm achieves an NPCR of ∼99.61% and a UACI of ∼33.46%, a key space of $2^{216}$, information entropy close to 8, and correlation coefficients of encrypted images near 0. It also exhibits strong robustness against differential, cropping, noise, and chosen-plaintext attacks. Comparative analysis with state-of-the-art algorithms validates the 4D-DCS’s advantages in structural simplicity and stability, and the encryption algorithm’s superiority in security and practicality, making it suitable for security-critical applications such as image encryption.