An efficient color/grayscale image encryption scheme based on hybrid chaotic maps

•An effective chaotic color/grayscale image encryption algorithm is proposed.•The encryption algorithm has a simple structure, easy implementation, and more secure.•The proposed algorithm has a high degree of security level, and it can compete with other encryption algorithms. Image encryption has become the essential way to secure image information with the high frequency of multimedia information exchange on the Internet. In this paper, an effective chaotic color/grayscale image encryption algorithm is proposed. The algorithm uses a hybrid 2D composite chaotic map combined with a sine–cosine cross-chaotic map for the transformation required to scramble the image as a confusion phase. As for the diffusion phase, a 1D combined Logistic-Tent chaotic map is used to generate a chaotic self-diffusion matrix that is bitwise XORed with the scrambled image to produce the final cipher image. The proposed algorithm combines the merits of both 1D and 2D chaotic maps; it has a simple structure, easy implementation, and excellent chaotic features making its chaotic orbits more unpredictable for introducing more security. The simulation and analysis results proved that the algorithm has a promising security performance and has a high ability to resist statistical and differential attacks.