This invention relates to the field of image
encryption technology and addresses the problems of slow
encryption speed and weak resistance to attacks in existing image
encryption methods. The image encryption method described in this invention uses a ternary fractional discrete
chaotic neural network system to generate a
chaotic sequence related to the
plaintext. A fractal sorting and scrambling process is then performed on the original image using a fractal model approach. To achieve better results, a double scrambling process is applied to both rows and columns. Finally, a synchronous scrambling and
diffusion operation is performed according to the
Hilbert curve traversal order, which can simultaneously change the position and size of pixel values. This method is the first to apply fractal thinking to the scrambling process in encryption, achieving good scrambling results. The synchronous scrambling and
diffusion operation further improves the encryption efficiency to a certain extent.