Optical information security technology has become the main research content of modern encryption technology because of its high speed and parallel characteristics. Ghost imaging is an active imaging technique in which information of the object is obtained based on high-order correlation of light fields. It has the characteristics of simple structure, high sensitivity and anti-interference. At the same time, the characteristic of data compression provides new ideas for optical information security technology. In this paper, according to different application scenarios, the development history and application status of ghost imaging technology in image encryption, secrecy transmission, information hiding and authentication, key distribution were introduced. The security vulnerabilities were also analyzed, and the problems that still exist in practical applications were discussed. The future development trend of ghost imaging encryption scheme was prospected.