We present the first quantum anonymous notification (QAN) protocol that introduces anonymity and paves the way for anonymous secure quantum communication in quantum networks. QAN protocol has applications ranging from multiparty quantum computation to quantum internet. We utilize the QAN protocol to propose an anonymous quantum private comparison protocol in an $n$-node quantum network. This protocol can compare private information of any $2 \leq k \leq n$ parties with the help of the remaining $n-k$ parties and a semi-honest third party. These protocols feature a traceless property, i.e., encoding operations cannot be traced back to their originating sources. Security analysis shows that this protocol is robust against external adversaries and malicious participants.
We present the first quantum anonymous notification (QAN) protocol that introduces anonymity and paves the way for anonymous secure quantum communication in quantum networks. QAN protocol has applications ranging from multiparty quantum computation to quantum internet. We utilize the QAN protocol to propose an anonymous quantum private comparison protocol in an n-node quantum network. This protocol can compare private information of any 2≤k≤n parties with the help of the remaining n−k parties and a semi-honest third party. These protocols feature a traceless property, i.e., encoding operations cannot be traced back to their originating sources. Security analysis shows that this protocol is robust against external adversaries and malicious participants.
Abstract Quantum mechanics offers new opportunities for diverse information processing tasks in communication and computational networks. In the last two decades, the notion of quantum anonymity has been introduced in several networking tasks that provide an unconditional secrecy of identity for the communicating parties. In this article, we propose a quantum anonymous collision detection (QACD) protocol which detects not only the collision but also guarantees the anonymity in the case of multiple senders. We show that the QACD protocol serves as an important primitive for a quantum anonymous network that features tracelessness and resource efficiency. Furthermore, the security analysis shows that this protocol is robust against the adversary and malicious participants.
The scalability of current quantum networks is limited due to noisy quantum components and high implementation costs, thereby limiting the security advantages that quantum networks provide over their classical counterparts. Quantum Augmented Networks (QuANets) address this by integrating quantum components in classical network infrastructure to improve robustness and end-to-end security. To enable such integration, Quantum Anonymous Notification (QAN) is a method to anonymously inform a receiver of an incoming quantum communication. Therefore, several quantum primitives will serve as core tools, namely, quantum voting, quantum anonymous protocols, quantum secret sharing, etc. However, all current quantum protocols can be compromised in the presence of several common channel noises. In this work, we propose an improved quantum anonymous notification (QAN) protocol that utilizes rotation operations on shared GHZ states to produce an anonymous notification in an n-user quantum-augmented network. We study the behavior of this modified QAN protocol under the dephasing noise model and observe stronger resilience to false notifications than earlier QAN approaches. The QAN framework is also proposed to be integrated with a machine-learning classifier, an enhanced quantum-augmented network. Finally, we discuss how this notification layer integrates with QuANets so that receivers can allow switch-bypass handling of quantum payloads, reducing header-based information leakage and vulnerability to targeted interference at compromised switches.
The scalability of current quantum networks is limited due to noisy quantum components and high implementation costs, thereby limiting the security advantages that quantum networks provide over their classical counterparts. Quantum Augmented Networks (QuANets) address this by integrating quantum components in classical network infrastructure to improve robustness and end-to-end security. To enable such integration, Quantum Anonymous Notification (QAN) is a method to anonymously inform a receiver of an incoming quantum communication. Therefore, several quantum primitives will serve as core tools, namely, quantum voting, quantum anonymous protocols, quantum secret sharing, etc. However, all current quantum protocols can be compromised in the presence of several common channel noises. In this work, we propose an improved quantum anonymous notification (QAN) protocol that utilizes rotation operations on shared GHZ states to produce an anonymous notification in an n-user quantum-augmented network. We study the behavior of this modified QAN protocol under the dephasing noise model and observe stronger resilience to false notifications than earlier QAN approaches. The QAN framework is also proposed to be integrated with a machine-learning classifier, an enhanced quantum-augmented network. Finally, we discuss how this notification layer integrates with QuANets so that receivers can allow switch-bypass handling of quantum payloads, reducing header-based information leakage and vulnerability to targeted interference at compromised switches.
Preserving privacy in communication and networking is of paramount importance in the Internet-of-Everything age of escalating surveillance and data collection. Anonymous communication is a cornerstone of this endeavor, enabling individuals to interact and exchange private information without disclosing their identities. However, achieving absolute security and privacy in classical anonymous networks (CANs) is highly challenging, and in particular, the advent of quantum computing poses critical threats to securing classical communication. In this article, we explore the evolution of CANs and delve into the distinctive shift from classical to quantum anonymous networks (QANs), emphasizing a substantial leap in privacy protected by quantum anonymous communication (QAC). The fundamental motivations behind this transition are rooted in the remarkable privacy attributes—e.g., completeanonymityanduntraceability— of QAC protocols, as well as the unconditional security ensured by the principles of quantum mechanics. To make these concepts more tangible in practical settings and provide a benchmark to design the QAC protocols in QANs, we usher in exemplary protocols: quantum anonymous teleportation, voting, and information retrieval. In these case studies, we assess the fidelity and error rates of the QAC protocols in noisy environments, aiming to evaluate their robustness in practical quantum entangled settings. Moreover, we discuss the primary challenges and future research directions integral to the transition towards QANs.
In the shift toward the quantum computing era, the foundational principles of classical cybersecurity, particularly in the realm of cryptographic algorithms, are facing unprecedented challenges. This demands comprehensive reevaluation and redesign of cryptographic infrastructures to withstand quantum adversarial attacks. With the emergence of the quantum Internet, a new approach to secure communication is possible, utilizing quantum properties that have no counterpart in classical systems. As the quantum Internet facilitates the exchange of quantum information, data publication protocols become essential in anonymizing and protecting privacy-sensitive data in quantum communication networks. This paper proposes two controlled quantum anonymous communication (QAC) protocols for publishing classical and quantum information on an Internet server (IS) with the assistance of a communication service provider. The first protocol allows for the controlled publication of classical information without revealing the publisher’s identity such that an adversary, even with access to all network resources, cannot trace the publication source—i.e., achieving perfect untraceability. The second protocol enables anonymous publication of quantum information on an IS in a controlled and untraceable manner. These protocols serve as essential building blocks for advancing the quantum Internet, which has the potential to transform communication and information exchange methods. We provide a detailed anonymity analysis of these QAC protocols for data publication, ensuring that the published symbol or qudit information remains untraceable to its publisher. Moreover, the performance analysis in terms of publication error probability, fidelity, and degree of anonymity in noisy environments demonstrates the robustness of the protocols against noise and adversarial attacks.
Quantum cybersecurity is the study of all facets regarding the security of communication and computation in a distributed network. Significant developments in quantum technologies have outclassed their classical counterparts, thus envisioning the realization of a quantum internet. However, such quantum resources, in the hands of an adversary, can jeopardize network security. In this paper, we study two secure network connectivity concerns, namely,privacyandanonymity, in quantum information retrieval systems. To this end, we propose a state-of-the-art single-server multi-user quantum anonymous private information retrieval (QAPIR) protocol. To actualize this, we utilize anonymous entanglement as a quantum resource. We show that the QAPIR protocol not only provides privacy but also introduces anonymity as an added layer of security in quantum networks. Furthermore, we also detail a comparative security analysis that establishes the desirable properties of our proposal.