QR CODES WITH WATERMARKING AND SECURITY

Abstract

QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is a type of matrix barcode or two-dimensional barcode. "Watermarking" is the process of hiding digital information in a carrier signal. Reversible watermarking technique is used to transfer some small information through the medium of images, and both the image and the data could be recovered at the receiving end. Here we propose multiple schemes where QR codes can be used for security and authentication with image watermarking. In the first scheme “QR Codes with Reversible Watermarking”, the QR code is generated for the patient information and this QR code is hidden behind a carrier image. The generated image will be the watermarked image which is sent to the receiver. At the receiver end , the receiver will extract the QR code along with it original image is also extracted which will be same as the carrier image. This provides for the confidentiality, authentication and the integrity of the transferred image. To extend authentication, second scheme “QR codes with Authentication and Watermarking” talks about making patient information more secure. Hash of patient information is generated followed by the key generation that selects a private key uniformly at random from a set of possible private keys. The algorithm outputs the private key and a corresponding public key. A signing algorithm given a message and a private key produces a signature. The QR Code of this message is generated and is hidden behind an image. At the Receiving end, message is decrypted using the public key and digital signature. The QR code of hashed information is recovered. This information is not hacked by any unintended user which ensures its authentication and non-repudiation. In the third scheme “Watermarking and image Processing”, we have extended the concept of watermarking in the field of image processing that is on changing the image attributes, what percentage of pixels match for the watermarked image which helps us to set the particular threshold to detect the watermark.