Content-fragile commutative watermarking-encryption based on pixel entropy

Abstract

Content-fragile commutative watermarking-encryption requires that both the content-fragile image signature and the watermarking process are invariant under encryption. The pixel entropy, being dependent on first-order image statistics only, is invariant under permutations. In the present paper we embed semi-fragile signatures based on pixel entropy by using a histogram-based watermarking algorithm, which is also invariant to permutations. We also show how the problem of collisions, i.e. different images having the same signature, can be overcome in this approach, if embedder and encryptor share a common secret.