Explore the potential of deep learning and hyperchaotic map in the meaningful visual image encryption scheme

Abstract In recent years, meaningful visual image encryption schemes that the plain image is compressed and encrypted and then hidden into the carrier image have received increasing attention. This paper proposes a new meaningful visual image encryption scheme, which consists of three stages: compression (compression network)—encryption (2D‐SLC hyperchaotic map)—hiding (matrix encoding). First, the advantages of deep learning are explored. It can compress the width, height, channel, and pixel values of the plain image simultaneously. Second, a new 2D‐SLC hyperchaotic map is designed to ensure security. It has a larger chaotic space and better randomness. Finally, to obtain a high‐quality cipher image, the secure secret image is hidden in the grey carrier image by matrix encoding. The scheme can compress and encrypt the grey or colour plain image and then hide it in a grey carrier image. In addition, the theoretical peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) between the cipher image and the carrier image is improved from 40.9292 to 42.1785 dB. The total running time is only about 0.35, 0.87 and 3.1 s for a 256 × 256, 512 × 512 and 1024 × 1024 grey or colour plain image, respectively.