Abstract Entity authentication and key exchange are fundamental prerequisites for ensuring the security of various emerging smart networks. However, most existing classical schemes are vulnerable to attacks from quantum computers. Recently, Prateek et al proposed a privacy-preserving mutual authentication scheme for smart metering infrastructure in smart grids. The authors claimed that their scheme is unconditionally secure and could resist various known security attacks, including impersonation attacks, eavesdropping attacks, and replay attacks. However, in this article, we demonstrate that there are serious security flaws in the proposed scheme. First, the scheme fails to ensure that two legitimate parties can reliably share a common session key, leading to a potential authentication failure. Second, an eavesdropper can exploit entangle-measure attacks to obtain partial information about the shared session key. Additionally, due to the inherent randomness of quantum measurements, the session key shared between two entities in each session is unpredictable. Consequently, the session keys distributed across different sessions may not be identical, further contributing to authentication failure. Finally, we provide an improvement to address these security flaws while preserving the original scheme’s advantageous features.
Smart energy systems are expediting the development of IoT-based devices, distributed energy resources and smart grid operations. This has eased more efficiency and environmental benefits. The digital systems lack privacy, accuracy, and reliability of data, thus making it susceptible to hacking and other evil acts. Even though it is resistant to most of the attacks, traditional cryptography may not work anymore as computers accelerate and quantum computers are put into practice. One can also utilize quantum communication technologies which are based on quantum physics which is more secure. BB84 and E91 algorithm of quantum key distribution in next-generation smart energy systems are the ones used in the current paper. The suggested solutions contribute to the improved security and stability of the operation as they bring the laws of quantum entanglement and superposition in line with the needs of the energy sector. The paper also outlines the major ways through which smart grids can be hacked like manipulating data, using false information and denying-ofservice and how they can be minimized by employing quantumenhanced communication. The success rate and level of data integrity of 98.7 % and 97.6 respectively are better than the classical cryptography and blockchain-only systems by 7.3 and 5.3 % respectively, as indicated by simulation analysis. The hybrid framework demonstrates the resilience against the false data injection and denial-of-service attacks up to 17 %.
ABSTRACT Smart grids, as critical Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) applications, demand highly secure data transmission due to their reliance on interconnected devices and networks for managing electricity. Traditional encryption methods face challenges in secure key distribution and are increasingly vulnerable to quantum attacks. This work addresses these vulnerabilities by utilizing quantum cryptography to secure data exchange in smart grid systems. The primary contributions are the implementation of multi‐level encryption algorithms, specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and the BB84 protocol, to ensure robust confidentiality and integrity in data transmission, overcoming key distribution issues and providing inherent detection of eavesdropping. Our proposed system facilitates secured, real‐time monitoring, control, and optimization of electricity generation, distribution, and consumption among distributed components. The performance of this framework is evaluated based on key metrics including relative execution time, correlation analysis of plaintext versus ciphertext, and privacy amplification effectiveness, demonstrating enhanced security and operational efficiency.
The development of Smart Grids (SGs) is a current trend and an indispensable essential living requirement. Due to economic development and improved quality of life, electricity demand has rapidly increased. However, the power grids in major cities have become outdated, leading to uneven power distribution and frequent power outages. SGs can adjust distribution strategies based on consumers’ real-time electricity demands, which requires continuous transmission of consumer electricity data within the grid. If the privacy and security of these data cannot be ensured, consumers’ habits will be exposed, and unnecessary waste may occur. In this article, we propose a key distribution process based on QKD, enabling entities within the SG to encrypt and authenticate each other’s data, ensuring the security and privacy of communication channels and transmitted data.
This paper is concerned with the privacy-preserving bidirectional electric power data transmission problem of the smart grid. A privacy-preserving bidirectional data transmission (BDT) protocol is developed over semi-quantum computation with aim to achieve bidirectional sensitive data flow between power suppliers and users. The minimal quantum cost is pursued under practical constraints while ensuring that power sensitive information is not leaked. To achieve the goal, a two-way data transmission protocol is first proposed that combines mutual identity authentication with message authentication for the benefits of enhanced security. Furthermore, for the preservation of privacy, a semi-quantum duplex communication approach is utilized, wherein the quantum state is randomly divided into two parts: teleportation and measurement qubits. The effectiveness of the privacy-preserving scheme against existing attack strategies is also rigorously analyzed. Lastly, simulation studies conducted on the IBM quantum cloud platform validate and underscore the superiority of the developed privacy-preserving BDT protocol.
The advancements of smart grid embedded Internet of things for monitor, control and collection of energy data from smart meter to data aggregator points. In this aspect two-way smart meter current challenges of data privacy and cyber-security concerns. To overcome these constraints numerous authenticated key agreements schemes considered to enhances performances and security. However, high latency and heavy cryptographic operation entails time and bits overheads. Moreover, quantum computing can break the classical encryption techniques and mathematical barriers of cyber defensive properties. Therefore, proposed quantum key distribution ensemble Paillier cryptosystem for maintains privacy-preserving and securing of smart metering infrastructures. The details security analysis showed proposed protocol can resistance various cyber-attacks with quantum computing threats. Furthermore, performances assessments based on extensive simulation of computation time and bits proposed protocols are leading position from existing schemes. Thus, the novel proposed key distribution enables efficiency, security, and data privacy which is emerging notions for the smart metering infrastructures.