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New Optical Security Doesn't Require Embedment

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the if-i-stare-long-enough-i-see-a-sailboat dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists are claiming to have a new type of optical security that doesn't require embedment. Optical security includes many different options but up until now they have all required that the secret image be embedded in a host image which left it vulnerable. From the article: 'To address this problem of finding the secret image in the watermark, scientists have developed a new optical security method that doesn't require embedment. Instead, the technique uses a phase retrieval algorithm to generate specific optical and phase keys that extract the secret information when applied. The optical keys contain information and are distributed to an individual through a personal identification number (PIN). The information contained in the phase keys (the main source for determining extraction) is distributed to the individual separately.'"

4 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. Embedment? by zenmojodaddy · · Score: 4, Funny

    A fine cromulent word with which to embiggen your article.

  2. Huh? by Bjarke+Roune · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think I speak for most of us who has only read the summary when I say: huh?

    --
    Bjarke Roune
  3. Is there anything new here? by netpixie · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Storing information by modulating the Fourier (or Fresnel) modes of an image is not new.

    That being said, the actual underlying science of this post might be intersting, if only I could get to it through the torrent of drivel in the summary.

    e.g. "meaning that the secret image cannot be found in the watermarked image"

    Then how do you extract it then?

    Do you mean "the image cannot be extracted without the key"?

    "Since the watermarked image contains no secret information" Que?

  4. The secrets in the key not the image by POPE+Mad+Mitch · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If i understand this correctly, traditionally you use steganography to hide the secret (another image) inside an existing (host) image, with a key to decrypt it, the draw back being that someone might accidentally spot the steganography.

    This technique doesnt put any data in the host image at all, the keys contain all information required to distort the host image into the secret image, thus given the host image, you cant accidentally stumble across the secret, and likewise the keys are of no use unless you also have the host image.

    Its akin to having a text encryption system where the key is the offsets into a known document where the letters can be found, the known document can be public, but unless you know what both it and the key neither is of any use.