Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Journal of Chinese Computer Systems

Insecurity of "Ping-Pong" Quantum Communication Protocol

Ying Guo

Published Jan 1, 2008• 4 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Ping-Pong quantum communication protocol may be employed to transmit deterministically information, so it has instrigued mang researchers. However, there are drawbacks on the security due to the symmetry of the employed two-way quantum channel. In this paper we propose a new attack strategy to eavesdrop the initially transmitted information based on the techniques of quantum error correction code (QECC). In addition, an attack strategy of Ping-Pong scheme based either entanglement state or nonorthogonal state is proofed and demonstrated, respectively. Furthermore, information obtained by Eve and the possible probability detected by the legitimate communicators are analyzed by employing information theorems. Detail proofs and analysis illustrate all previous Ping-Pong quantum communication schemes are insecure, i.e., the eavesdropper may obtain all available information without being detected.

Related papers

Eavesdropping on the `ping-pong' quantum communication protocol freely in a noise channel

Deng Fu-Guo, Xihan Li, Chunyan Li +2 more

We introduce an attack scheme for eavesdropping freely the ping-pong quantum communication protocol proposed by Boström and Felbinger [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 , 187902 (2002)] in a noise channel. The vicious eavesdropper, Eve, intercepts and measures the travel photon transmitted between the sender and the receiver. Then she replaces the quantum signal with a multi-photon signal in the same state, and measures the returned photons with the measuring basis, with which Eve prepares the fake signal except for one photon. This attack increases neither the quantum channel losses nor the error rate in the sampling instances for eavesdropping check. It works for eavesdropping the secret message transmitted with the ping-pong protocol. Finally, we propose a way for improving the security of the ping-pong protocol.

arXiv:quant-ph/0507143•Chinese Physics•Jan 24, 2007•36 citations

A “Ping-pong” Protocol with Authentication

Chen Zuning, Zheng Qin

The quantum secure direct communication is a new-style quantum communication scheme. It arouses much interest recently. The ping-pong protocol proposed by Bostroem and Felbinger is one of relatively mature quantum secure direct communication protocols, which is asymptotically secure under Eve's eavesdropping attack. But it ignores the message authentication. Being aimed at this problem, we propose a novel ping-pong protocol with authentication. The former has two operation modes, or the message mode and the control mode, which are used to send message and detect Eve's attack, respectively. But it just detects Eve's eavesdropping attack and does not authenticate the sent message in the control mode. The latter has also the above two operation modes, which employs a braid-based key agreement protocol for both the parties participating in communication to share a secret, whose size and magnitude are undecided in advance. Using the shared secret, it not only detects Eve's eavesdropping attack, but also effectively performs the message authentication in the control mode. It is also asymptotically secure under Eve's eavesdropping attack. The security of the proposed protocol is based on the no-cloning theorem, the correlations of quantum entanglement and the fact that the p-th root finding problem on braid groups is intractable even on quantum computers, as well as classical computers. In addition different from the original ping-pong protocol, the communication was initiated by the sender Alice instead of by the receiver Bob. This corresponds to the way of common communications. The present protocol not only can resist the attacks known recently, but should be experimentally feasible using today's technology.

IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA)•Jun 1, 2010•2 citations

Security of ping-pong protocol based on pairs of completely entangled qudits

P. Zawadzki

Quantum secure direct communication protocols offer confidential transmission of classic information over quantum channel without prior key agreement. The ping-pong based protocols provide asymptotic security and detailed analysis of security level provided by each variant of the protocol is required. The paper presents a general method of calculation of the eavesdropped information as a function of the attack detection probability. The method is applied to the ping-pong protocol based on completely entangled pairs of qudits. The upper and lower bounds on the amount of the leaked information and eavesdropping detection probability are provided.

Quantum Information Processing•Sep 21, 2011•30 citations

Eavesdropping on the “Ping-Pong” Quantum Communication Protocol

Antoni Wójcik

Security of the "ping-pong" quantum communication protocol recently proposed by Boström and Felbinger [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 187902 (2002)]] is analyzed in the case of considerable quantum channel losses. The eavesdropping scheme is presented, which reveals that the ping-pong protocol is not secure for transmission efficiencies lower than 60%. Our scheme induces 50% losses, which, however, can be hidden in the channel losses if one replaces the original lossy channel with a less lossy one. Finally, a possible improvement of the ping-pong protocol security is proposed.

arXiv:quant-ph/0211199•Physical Review Letters•Apr 15, 2003•336 citations

An efficient modification to the ping-pong protocol to enhance the security

Hargeet Kaur, Kavit Shah

Ping-Pong protocol is a Quantum Secure Direct Communication protocol that fails to transfer a secure key or secret message optimally in a lossy or noisy channel. The reason is an eavesdropper who possibly hides in the light of these channel losses and gains information about the secure key bits or secret messages. We propose an efficient modification to the control mode of the original Ping-Pong protocol leading to the detection of an eavesdropper with a much higher probability which may not allow her to hide in the light of lossy channels. Assuming that Eve knows and makes a fixed number of right guesses about the modification in the protocol, an optimum ratio of modification can be evaluated. In addition, it is shown that incorporation of the proposed modification in the protocol doubles the eavesdropper’s detection probability for certain eavesdropping operations.

AIP conference proceedings•Jan 1, 2023•0 citations

New Quantum Secret Sharing Protocol Using Entangled Qutrits

Yevhen Vasiliu, Igor V. Limar, Tomasz Gancarczyk +1 more

A new quantum secret sharing protocol based on the ping-pong protocol of quantum secure direct communication is proposed. The pairs of entangled qutrits are used in protocol, which allows an increase in the information capacity compared with protocols based on entangled qubits. The detection of channel eavesdropping used in the protocol is being implemented in random moments of time, thereby it is possible do not use the significant amount of quantum memory. The security of the proposed protocol to attacks is considered. A method for additional amplification of the security to an eavesdropping attack in communication channels for the developed protocol is proposed.

IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Data Acquisition and Advanced Computing Systems: Technology and Applications (IDAACS)•Sep 1, 2019•2 citations
Ping-Pong quantum communication protocol may be employed to transmit deterministically information, so it has instrigued mang researchers. However, there are drawbacks on the security due to the symmetry of the employed two-way quantum channel. In this paper we propose a new attack strategy to eavesdrop the initially transmitted information based on the techniques of quantum error correction code (QECC). In addition, an attack strategy of Ping-Pong scheme based either entanglement state or nonorthogonal state is proofed and demonstrated, respectively. Furthermore, information obtained by Eve and the possible probability detected by the legitimate communicators are analyzed by employing information theorems. Detail proofs and analysis illustrate all previous Ping-Pong quantum communication schemes are insecure, i.e., the eavesdropper may obtain all available information without being detected.
We introduce an attack scheme for eavesdropping freely the ping-pong quantum communication protocol proposed by Boström and Felbinger [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 89 , 187902 (2002)] in a noise channel. The vicious eavesdropper, Eve, intercepts and measures the travel photon transmitted between the sender and the receiver. Then she replaces the quantum signal with a multi-photon signal in the same state, and measures the returned photons with the measuring basis, with which Eve prepares the fake signal except for one photon. This attack increases neither the quantum channel losses nor the error rate in the sampling instances for eavesdropping check. It works for eavesdropping the secret message transmitted with the ping-pong protocol. Finally, we propose a way for improving the security of the ping-pong protocol.
The quantum secure direct communication is a new-style quantum communication scheme. It arouses much interest recently. The ping-pong protocol proposed by Bostroem and Felbinger is one of relatively mature quantum secure direct communication protocols, which is asymptotically secure under Eve's eavesdropping attack. But it ignores the message authentication. Being aimed at this problem, we propose a novel ping-pong protocol with authentication. The former has two operation modes, or the message mode and the control mode, which are used to send message and detect Eve's attack, respectively. But it just detects Eve's eavesdropping attack and does not authenticate the sent message in the control mode. The latter has also the above two operation modes, which employs a braid-based key agreement protocol for both the parties participating in communication to share a secret, whose size and magnitude are undecided in advance. Using the shared secret, it not only detects Eve's eavesdropping attack, but also effectively performs the message authentication in the control mode. It is also asymptotically secure under Eve's eavesdropping attack. The security of the proposed protocol is based on the no-cloning theorem, the correlations of quantum entanglement and the fact that the p-th root finding problem on braid groups is intractable even on quantum computers, as well as classical computers. In addition different from the original ping-pong protocol, the communication was initiated by the sender Alice instead of by the receiver Bob. This corresponds to the way of common communications. The present protocol not only can resist the attacks known recently, but should be experimentally feasible using today's technology.
Quantum secure direct communication protocols offer confidential transmission of classic information over quantum channel without prior key agreement. The ping-pong based protocols provide asymptotic security and detailed analysis of security level provided by each variant of the protocol is required. The paper presents a general method of calculation of the eavesdropped information as a function of the attack detection probability. The method is applied to the ping-pong protocol based on completely entangled pairs of qudits. The upper and lower bounds on the amount of the leaked information and eavesdropping detection probability are provided.
Security of the "ping-pong" quantum communication protocol recently proposed by Boström and Felbinger [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 187902 (2002)]] is analyzed in the case of considerable quantum channel losses. The eavesdropping scheme is presented, which reveals that the ping-pong protocol is not secure for transmission efficiencies lower than 60%. Our scheme induces 50% losses, which, however, can be hidden in the channel losses if one replaces the original lossy channel with a less lossy one. Finally, a possible improvement of the ping-pong protocol security is proposed.
Ping-Pong protocol is a Quantum Secure Direct Communication protocol that fails to transfer a secure key or secret message optimally in a lossy or noisy channel. The reason is an eavesdropper who possibly hides in the light of these channel losses and gains information about the secure key bits or secret messages. We propose an efficient modification to the control mode of the original Ping-Pong protocol leading to the detection of an eavesdropper with a much higher probability which may not allow her to hide in the light of lossy channels. Assuming that Eve knows and makes a fixed number of right guesses about the modification in the protocol, an optimum ratio of modification can be evaluated. In addition, it is shown that incorporation of the proposed modification in the protocol doubles the eavesdropper’s detection probability for certain eavesdropping operations.
A new quantum secret sharing protocol based on the ping-pong protocol of quantum secure direct communication is proposed. The pairs of entangled qutrits are used in protocol, which allows an increase in the information capacity compared with protocols based on entangled qubits. The detection of channel eavesdropping used in the protocol is being implemented in random moments of time, thereby it is possible do not use the significant amount of quantum memory. The security of the proposed protocol to attacks is considered. A method for additional amplification of the security to an eavesdropping attack in communication channels for the developed protocol is proposed.