This paper proposed a method of improved genetic algorithm (IGA)-based secure communications in multiple timedelay chaotic (MTDC) systems with optimal H ∞ performance and advanced encryption standard (AES). First, we apply an initial round key via AES encryption function to acquire the encrypted message. The encrypted message is used to carry out double encryption by chaotic synchronization. A robust fuzzy control design is then presented to address the effects of modeling errors between the MTDC systems and Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy models. Next, in terms of Lyapunov's direct method, a delaydependent exponential stability criterion is derived to guarantee that the trajectories of the slave system can approach those of the master system. Subsequently, the stability conditions of this criterion are transformed into linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). In addition, the genetic algorithm (GA) has drawn great attention from researchers due to the capability of GA in random search for achieving near-optimal solutions. The lower and upper bounds of the search space based on the LMI approach can be set so that the GA will seek better feedback gains of fuzzy controllers in order to speed up the synchronization. However, the GA has the shortcomings of premature convergence and local search. Therefore, an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) is proposed in this study to effectively overcome the weakness of the traditional GA. On the basis of the IGA, a fuzzy controller is synthesized to not only realize the exponential synchronization, but also achieve optimal H ∞ performance by minimizing the disturbance attenuation level. Finally, a numerical example with simulations is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.