An efficient and secure chaotic cipher algorithm for image content preservation

•A new chaotic cipher algorithm for efficient and secure image content preservation is suggested, the proposal is well-suited for both standard and medical images, under just one round.•The proposal consists of two modules, which are iteratively performed: chaotic confusion and pixel diffusion, the first module is governed by means of a nonlinear bit-level shuffling and circular-shifting, while the second module is ruled by means of an improved expanded XOR (eXOR) operation, the whole cryptosystem is controlled by the generated chaotic sequences of Logistic Tent System (LTS).•The obtained results indicate the high performance in terms of execution-time and security level of the proposed cipher algorithm, and hence confirm its efficiency for real-time secure image transmission.