An Effective Hybrid Encryption Model using Biometric Key for Ensuring Data Security

Abstract

Cybersecurity becomes a key concern in many applications as cybercrimes exploit system weaknesses. Cryptography helps protect sensitive data in everyday transactions and communications using passwords or tokens. However, the power of the encryption/decryption algorithms always depends on their ability to secure the data in any situation. This paper presents an effective hybrid encryption/decryption model that makes use of a biometric key along with an effective password to ensure data security. The biometric key utilised in the proposed model is generated from the fingerprint, which is a unique physical characteristic of an individual. The model initially encodes the data to be securely transmitted. The symmetric key encryption that makes use of a biometric key is applied over the encoded data. Another layer of defence is built by applying asymmetric key encryption to the encrypted data along with the details of the fingerprint. The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm and Elgamal Encryption using Elliptical Curve Cryptography (E3C2) are used for symmetric and asymmetric encryptions. Experimental analysis is performed to analyse the model's computing speed and security and is compared with existing models and encoding/encryption techniques.