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International Conference on Collaboration Technologies and Systems (CTS)

An overview of Quantum Cryptography for Wireless Networking Infrastructure

K.H. Sheikh, Syed.S. Hyder, Muhammad Mubashir Khan

Published Jul 10, 2006• 11 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is used in Quantum Cryptographic Systems to exchange secret key between parties who need to communicate secretly. Such a key can be used with a symmetric encryption schemes to establish a secure communication. Until recently, QKD is possible using optical fiber over few tens of kilometers but not more due to single photons getting absorbed by the fiber. There are no commercial wireless quantum crypto products yet, but QKD will soon be used in wireless medium from satellite to the earth so we could get 10,000 miles. But wireless medium brings its own problems. The energy transmitted via a wireless link spreads out, leading to higher and varying transmission losses, ambient daylight, or even light from the moon at night couple into the receiver, leading to a higher error rate. Interference from other photon sources air with clouds, dust and unsettled conditions creates intervention. In this paper, different techniques for communication in Quantum Cryptography using wireless networking infrastructure are discussed.

DOI
10.1109/cts.2006.16

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•Jun 27, 2018•0 citations
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is used in Quantum Cryptographic Systems to exchange secret key between parties who need to communicate secretly. Such a key can be used with a symmetric encryption schemes to establish a secure communication. Until recently, QKD is possible using optical fiber over few tens of kilometers but not more due to single photons getting absorbed by the fiber. There are no commercial wireless quantum crypto products yet, but QKD will soon be used in wireless medium from satellite to the earth so we could get 10,000 miles. But wireless medium brings its own problems. The energy transmitted via a wireless link spreads out, leading to higher and varying transmission losses, ambient daylight, or even light from the moon at night couple into the receiver, leading to a higher error rate. Interference from other photon sources air with clouds, dust and unsettled conditions creates intervention. In this paper, different techniques for communication in Quantum Cryptography using wireless networking infrastructure are discussed.
Recent misuse of wireless internet by terrorists has increased the need for security in the same. With ever growing technology both cryptographers, who encrypt messages, and cryptanalysts, who break those codes, have equal opportunities and facilities. Quantum Cryptography seems to be a promising solution providing absolute security in such communications. Its works by identifying the threats and combats them by using basic laws of Quantum Physics. Since the first proposition on quantum key distribution protocol appeared in 1984, research on quantum cryptography has been growing rapidly. Experiments of quantum key distribution have been realized for optical and free-space environments [1, 2, 3, and 4]. In fiber networks, some products have been commercialized to provide a turnkey service for widely used encryption algorithms [5], In section 2 and 3 we analyze the authentication and key management in 802.11 networks and in section 4 we are giving the introduction of Quantum Cryptography with QKD and in section 5 we are integrating quantum technique for the distribution of encryption keys in 802.11 wireless networks.
Due to the recent rapid growth of computing technologies, today's encrypted information based on classical computational complexities will soon no longer remain secure. Quantum cryptography, or quantum key distribution (QKD), relying on the physical laws of quantum mechanics, stands out as a more powerful cryptographic solution that enables the secret key to be shared securely over publicly unsecured communication channels in the presence of eavesdroppers. QKD can be possibly implemented over both optical fiber and free-space optical (FSO) links. Compared to optical fiber, FSO has the immediate advantage of flexibility and cost-effectiveness in terms of infrastructure deployment. More interestingly, recent advancements in satellite communications using FSO links promise the future of a global QKD network for highly secure applications. This paper reviews the development of QKD over FSO for both terrestrial and satellite channels, which highlights the most up-to-date QKD protocols. Owing to how the information is encoded, different QKD protocols are classified into technology-focused categories, where their properties are reviewed and compared. The feasibility of current QKD protocols is then investigated with respect to its specific application scenarios for terrestrial and satellite FSO links, equipped with results from both theoretical and experimental studies. Based on the latest free-space QKD achievements, novel perspectives for future developments and challenges to enhance the secrecy performance and reduce implementation cost are then summarized and comprehensively discussed. The potential combination of QKD and physical layer cryptography for the newly emerging wireless mobile communications networks involved with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) is also introduced.
As wireless networks become increasingly integral to modern communication infrastructures, the need for robust security mechanisms to protect sensitive information has never been more critical. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) presents a revolutionary approach to secure communications by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics to ensure the theoretical unbreakability of cryptographic keys. This study provides a comprehensive review of the current status of QKD technologies within the context of wireless networks, utilizing secondary data sources to analyze recent advancements, implementations, and challenges. The paper begins by outlining the fundamental principles of QKD and its superiority over classical cryptographic methods. It then examines recent developments in QKD protocols and their adaptability to wireless environments, highlighting successful case studies and experimental trials. Key challenges, including technological limitations, integration hurdles with existing network infrastructures, and cost considerations, are discussed in detail. The review also explores emerging trends and innovations, such as hybrid QKD systems and satellite-based implementations, which promise to expand the applicability and feasibility of QKD in wireless networks. Finally, the study delineates future prospects and potential research directions, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to overcome existing limitations and fully realize the potential of QKD in enhancing wireless network security.
The secure distribution of the secret random bit sequences known as `key' material, is an essential precursor to their use for the encryption and decryption of confidential communications. Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology for secure key distribution with single-photon transmissions: Heisenburg's uncertainty principle ensures that an adversary can neither successfully tap the key transmissions, nor evade detection (eavesdropping raises the key error rate above a threshold value). We have developed experimental quantum cryptography systems based on the transmission of non-orthogonal single-photon states to generate shared key material over multi-kilometer optical fiber paths and over line-of-sight links. In both cases, key material is built up using the transmission of a single- photon per bit of an initial secret random sequence. A quantum-mechanically random subset of this sequence is identified, becoming the key material after a data reconciliation stage with the sender. In our optical fiber experiment we have performed quantum key distribution over 24-km of underground optical fiber using single-photon interference states, demonstrating that secure, real-time key generation over `open' multi-km node-to-node optical fiber communications links is possible.
Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. Key distribution is the problem of classical cryptography algorithm, and tends to provide safe channel to transport key. Quantum cryptography could distribute key in quantum channel. Eavesdropper can not access to key on quantum channel. If Eve attack on quantum channel QBER increases and she is detected. While the application of quantum cryptography in fiber network has significant advances, research on the application of quantum cryptography in mobile networks is still premature. In this paper, we analyze the interests of using quantum technique for the distribution of encryption keys in 802.11 wireless networks. We also propose a scheme for the combination of quantum cryptography and 802.11i security mechanisms for the establishment of the PTK (Pairwise Transient Key).
Among all emerging quantum information technologies, quantum key distribution (QKD) is one of the most developed techniques. QKD harnesses the intrinsic laws of quantum mechanics to provide a method for distributing secret random keys, which can be used for data encryption and decryption between two intended users. QKD has already been demonstrated in different scenarios over optical fibre and in atmospheric channels. QKD has also been used for security assurance in several network settings, in addition of being commercially available today. Despite remarkable progress in QKD systems, convenient access to the developing quantum communications networks is still missing. Adopting QKD in mobile devices would enable such a service, particularly, in indoor environments. This is in line with the recent advancement in fabricating microchip-scale QKD devices, which would ease this incorporation into mobile devices. This work focuses on the access networks, and, in particular, it addresses the wireless mode of access in indoor environments for QKD networks. We find a practical regime of operation, where, in the presence of external light sources and loss, secret keys can be exchanged. We then propose practical configurations that would enable wireless access to hybrid quantum-classical networks. The proposed setups would allow an indoor wireless user, equipped with a QKD-enabled mobile device, to communicate securely with a remote party on the other end of the access network. We account for adverse effects of the background noise induced by Raman scattered light on the QKD receivers due to the transmission of both quantum and classical signals over the same fibre. In addition, we consider the loss and the background noise that arise from indoor environments. We consider a number of discrete and continuous-variable QKD protocols and study their performance in different scenarios. In our analysis we consider the asymptotic scenario, as well as the finite-size key effects. In the former case, an infinite number of signals are assumed to be exchanged between the sender and the recipient, whereas in the latter, which represents the practical scenario, a finite number of signals are exchanged between the two users. Our results indicate that a feasible regime of operation for wireless QKD exists. This makes the QKD technologies available to end users of a communications network.