  As a powerful cryptanalysis tool, the method of return-map attacks can be
used to extract secret messages masked by chaos in secure communication
schemes. Recently, a simple defensive mechanism was presented to enhance the
security of chaotic parameter modulation schemes against return-map attacks.
Two techniques are combined in the proposed defensive mechanism: multistep
parameter modulation and alternative driving of two different transmitter
variables. This paper re-studies the security of this proposed defensive
mechanism against return-map attacks, and points out that the security was much
over-estimated in the original publication for both ciphertext-only attack and
known/chosen-plaintext attacks. It is found that a deterministic relationship
exists between the shape of the return map and the modulated parameter, and
that such a relationship can be used to dramatically enhance return-map attacks
thereby making them quite easy to break the defensive mechanism.
