A Novel Pseudo-Random Sequence Generator Based Cellular Automata and 2D Hénon Map: Employing Image Encryption via One-Time Pad.

This paper proposes a new pseudo-random sequence generator to improve the security of data. The method innovatively integrates a 2D Henon map into the evolutionary process of cellular automata to introduce chaotic features into selected dynamic neighbourhoods during evolution, boosting the generator's efficacy. The proposed generator outperforms static neighborhood-based pseudo-random generators and meets the criteria defined by the National Institute of Standards. To overcome the limitation of the one-time pad algorithm, where the key length must match the plaintext length, the proposed generator ensuring that the key length matches the length plain text. The encryption scheme achieves an average entropy information value of 7.99%, which indicates robustness against entropy attacks. Additionally, the Number of Pixels Change Rate (NPCR) was above 99% and the Unified Average Changing Intensity (UACI) was close to the ideal value of 33%, demonstrating its suitability for image encryption with enhanced security and minimal complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]