A digital holographic information system can process complex three-dimensional (3-D) object information. We demonstrate a scheme for securing complex and 3-D information in the context of in-line digital holography. Double random phase encoding in the free-space propagation domain of light is used to secure the complex information. Encrypted in-line digital holograms are recorded using the position-phase-shifting method. The encrypted complex image at the CCD recording plane is retrieved from the real-valued digital holograms, and is used for decryption. The robustness of the method has also been studied for various securing keys used in the method against blind decryption. A layer-by-layer information retrieval from the encrypted digital hologram is also discussed. The method can also be used to secure digital complex information in a virtual optics modality using holographic principles. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.