A New Approach to Securing Sensitive Documents Using QR Code-Based Encryption in E-Government Systems

Abstract

With the increasing use of e-Government systems, measures are needed to protect the integrity of sensitive documents. The study adopted an experimental prototype-based approach, where a practical prototype of an encryption system that integrates dynamic QR code generation with advanced encryption techniques was developed. The system aims to provide a positive and secure environment for preserving sensitive government documents while supporting already established e-government processes. This research aims to increase understanding of secure, scalable solutions for users in the context of advanced encryption for modern digital governance. The encryption process was tested using real document images to measure its effectiveness in encrypting sensitive information. The experimental approach relies on implementing substitution and transposition operations using a pseudo-random number generator and measuring system performance regarding security strength, tamper resistance, and operational efficiency in e-government applications. The practical and iterative design allows continuous adjustment based on system behavior and encryption results. The results have proven effectiveness in the Normalized Mean Absolute Error (NMAE); the proposed encryption algorithm generates the best result as it provides the maximum value for NMAE compared to known encryption algorithms and stimulates maximum distortion in encrypted documents. Regarding Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), the proposed method has a marginally lower average PSNR value than known encryption techniques. The proposed method also records a close average entropy compared to all known encryption algorithms. Based on the average correlation values, the proposed method has the lowest correlation mean and is the least predictable.