Secure, Robust and Optimized Algorithm: Towards Enhancing Digital Image Watermarking

This paper introduces a robust, secure, and optimized digital watermarking methodology that employs three distinct algorithms, each designed to enhance the security and robustness of embedding watermarks in digital images. The first algorithm ensures data integrity with CRC-32 checksums, compresses data using Gzip, encrypts with AES, and embeds watermarks through Least Significant Bits (LSB) coupled with the Fisher Yates Shuffle algorithm. The second algorithm adopts QR for data integrity, Zlib for data compression, DES for encryption, and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) for embedding. The third algorithm combines CRC-32 for data integrity and Gzip for compression with AES encryption and LSB embedding, enhancedby Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to optimize embedding parameters. The effectiveness of these algorithms is assessed using a comprehensive set of image quality metrics, including Mean Square Error (MSE), Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Normalized Cross-Correlation (NC), Average Difference (AD), Structural Content (SC), Maximum Difference (MD), Local Mean Square Error (LMSE), and Normalized Absolute Error(NAE). Furthermore, the resilience of these algorithms against common attacks is analyzed through Histogram Analysis, LSB Attack, and Chi-Square Analysis. This paper aims to improve digital image watermarking by integrating advanced encryption, compression, and optimization techniques, addressing crucial challenges in data protection and integrity.