On the use of chaotic synchronization for secure communication

Research on the secure communication applications of chaotic synchronization is reviewed. A number of secure communication methods and devices using different types of synchronous behavior are examined. For the purpose of comparison of existing methods, quantitative efficiency characteristics are introduced and estimated. An extremely noise-stable, generalized synchronization-based, secure information transmission method is proposed. All of the methods considered are systematically checked for efficiency for the first time by numerically simulating unidirectionally coupled chaotic Rössler systems for use as transmitting and receiving generators. Key advantages and disadvantages of secure information transmission schemes using synchronized chaotic oscillations are discussed.