Using set partitioning in hierarchical trees to authenticate digital images

In this paper, we present a new image authentication scheme to verify the contents of multi-resolution digital images. The authentication message of a given image is generated based on the set partition in hierarchical trees (SPIHT) encoding. When the original authentication message and the SPIHT decoded message of the image to be authenticated are compared, the given image can then be authenticated. The size of the authentication message is adaptive and is determined according to the user requirement. The experimental results show that the proposed scheme can distinguish acceptable operations from malicious manipulations. Furthermore, the positions of tampered areas can be located accurately. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.