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

International Conference on Computer Applications & Information Security (ICCAIS)

Quantum Cryptography on IBM QX

Dhoha A. Almubayedh, Mashael AL-Khalis, Ghadeer Alazman, Manal Alabdali, Malak Alfosail, Naya Nagy

Published May 1, 2019• 14 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Due to the importance of securing electronic transactions, many cryptographic protocols have been employed, that mainly depend on distributed keys between the intended parties. In classical computers, the security of these protocols depends on the mathematical complexity of the encoding functions and on the length of the key. However, the existing classical algorithms 100% breakable with enough computational power, which can be provided by quantum machines. Moving to quantum computation, the field of security shifts into a new area of cryptographic solutions which is now the field of quantum cryptography. The era of quantum computers is at its beginning. There are few practical implementations and evaluations of quantum protocols. Therefore, the paper defines a well-known quantum key distribution protocol which is BB84 then provides a practical implementation of it on IBM QX software. The practical implementations showed that there were differences between BB84 theoretical expected results and the practical implementation results. Due to this, the paper provides a statistical analysis of the experiments by comparing the standard deviation of the results. Using the BB84 protocol the existence of a third-party eavesdropper can be detected. Thus, calculations of the probability of detecting/not detecting a third-party eavesdropping have been provided. These values are again compared to the theoretical expectation. The calculations showed that with the greater number of qubits, the percentage of detecting eavesdropper will be higher.

DOI
10.1109/cais.2019.8769567

Related papers

QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION SCHEME: AN IMPROVEMENT BASED ON BB84 PROTOCOL

Kausik Saha

Cryptography is being introduced to secure data. Through Classical Cryptographic technique, we can encrypt our data and secure secret key also. But classical cryptography is based on mathematical techniques where reversing one-way function is possible with sufficient computing power and time. So, Quantum Cryptography is introduced to overcome those drawbacks of traditional classical cryptography. It is based on the values of quantum mechanics and photon. Scientists and researchers have brought up a new key distribution protocol based on Quantum Cryptography is called Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Protocol. The first QKD protocol BB84 was introduced by Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard in 1984. After that several QKD protocols have been created. In this paper we have improved BB84 Protocol by removing the drawbacks of the existing algorithm towards Eavesdropping which may not be detected or disclosing large portion of secret key. Steps of the existing BB84 algorithm along with the modified one is described in detail with example and pseudo code. Limitations of BB84 and comparative study of both the existing and the improved one based on their security has been made and described in this current work.

International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science•Apr 20, 2018•1 citation

Implementation of QKD BB84 Protocol in Qiskit

Muhammad Haroon Saeed, Hassan Sattar, Muhammad Hanif Durad +1 more

Quantum cryptography is a practical method of secret communication that guarantees the foolproof secrecy. This paper presents the simulation for implementation of a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol BB84, the pioneering, and most basic and fundamental protocol. We use the quantum computing platform developed by IBM named as Qiskit for the simulation of the BB84 protocol, implementing it with and without an Eve eavesdropper for studying the relative outcomes. Recently, Qiskit is globally very popular for quantum simulations because it provide us the opportunity to simulate quantum logic circuit on classical computer as well as real quantum computers owned by IBM. As per our best knowledge, there is no any proposal published for quantum circuit by anyone for BB84 QKD. We performed experimentation on local as well as cloud simulators: 1) The "qasm_simulator" was used as local machine simulator, and 2) The "ibmqx2" simulator was used as IBM cloud quantum simulator. The outcome of local as well as IBM simulator with and without an eavesdropper, between the two parties involved in key exchange were recorded and presented in the results section.

International Bhurban Conference on Applied Sciences and Technology (IBCAST)•Aug 16, 2022•26 citations

Security Analysis of the BB84 Quantum Key Distribution Protocol Using Qiskit

Tushar Kumar Chauhan, Sharon Rose J, Rinisha Jeshni K +2 more

The rapid progress of quantum computing demands secure communication protocols which are beyond classical cryptographic techniques. This necessity of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is met by providing security relying on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. In the work presented, the BB84 protocol is implemented using Qiskit platform provided by IBM. The performance is analyzed for both the ideal channel conditions and an intercept–resend eavesdropping scenario studying its security behavior and performance. 100% key agreement is observed with a QBER of 0% for the BB84 protocol executed under the ideal condition. When an eavesdropper is introduced, the QBER increases significantly, ranging from 16% to 38%, exceeding the acceptable security threshold of 11% and resulting in complete rejection of the generated key. Performance analysis carried out for key sizes between 100 and 1000 qubits shows that the execution time follows O(n) trend growing linearly. This simulation validates the correct operation of the BB84 protocol and demonstrates a detailed performance and security analysis of a QKD system using IBM Qiskit.

International Conference on Devices, Circuits and Systems (ICDCS)•Mar 27, 2026•0 citations

Quantum Key Distribution Using BB84 Protocol: A Computational Study of Error Rates

Anita Pokharel, Rupisha Dangol, Hari Neupane

Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure communication using the principles of quantum physics. The BB84 protocol is not only effective for secure key sharing but also for detecting eavesdropping. This study simulates a computational model of QKD and analyzes error rates under varying numbers of bits. Using Python-based simulations with n = 10, n = 100, and n = 1000 bits, and a fixed noise probability of 0.02, we evaluated scenarios both with and without eavesdropping over 1000 trials. The results show an average error rate of 2% without eavesdropping and over 26% with eavesdropping. Standard deviation increases with lower n, indicating higher variability. This study validates BB84’s robustness under noise and demonstrates its sensitivity to third-party interference.

Journal of Nepal Physical Society•Dec 18, 2025•0 citations

A Secure Method of Communication Through BB84 Protocol in Quantum Key Distribution

Chunduru Anilkumar, Swathi Lenka, N. Neelima +1 more

Security awareness is one of the most pressing topics in today's globe. The idea of cryptography is introduced when the subject is information security. Conventional cryptography-based security techniques rely on the presumption that keys are shared before secure connections. The most crucial factor to consider when integrating cryptographic operations into account when integrating cryptographic operations in with any system is the safe key management strategy required for sending and transferring a secret key between two entities The systems will be vulnerable to bugs and possibly fatal external assaults if the fundamental management methods are poor A method for securely encrypting data sent between parties is quantum cryptography. and spotting eavesdroppers trying to overhear the conversation. Quantum cryptography may be the solution to these issues a quantum cryptography application, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), refers to the production of a cryptographic key with unconditional security assured by physical rules. Quantum cryptography is a kind of encryption. We examine the quantum key exchange protocol (BB84 protocol) in this study and the way that it significantly improves data transfer security when compared to standard encryption techniques. The main objective of quantum cryptography is to offer a trustworthy way to provide a secure method of communication between the intended peers only and to detect the Eavesdropper presence.

Scalable Computing Practice and Experience•Jan 4, 2024•23 citations

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for Symmetric Key Transfer

Asoke Nath, Shreya Maity, Soham Banerjee +1 more

Classical cryptographic systems are increasingly challenged by advances in computing power and new algorithmic techniques, particularly with the rise of quantum computing, which threatens the security of current encryption methods. This has spurred interest in quantum-resistant cryptography, aimed at creating algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum computers. Traditionally, secure key transport over alternate channels has been a significant challenge, but quantum mechanics offers a solution. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a revolutionary method for secure communication that leverages quantum principles. Unlike traditional methods, QKD provides unconditional security, with key security ensured by the laws of physics rather than computational difficulty. The BB84 protocol, introduced in 1984 by Bennett and Brassard, is a leading QKD scheme known for its simplicity and effectiveness in generating eavesdropping-resistant cryptographic keys. It facilitates secure key transport over alternate channels. This documentation aims to advance QKD security by practically implementing and analyzing the BB84 protocol. Through detailed theoretical analysis, simulation studies, and experimental validation, the practical impacts, and limitations of BB84-based QKD systems are examined. Additionally, a practical implementation of quantum key distribution using a sudoku key demonstrates the process's simplicity and effectiveness. These findings are expected to pave new paths in the field of cryptanalysis in the emerging Quantum Age.

International Journal of Scientific Research in Computer Science Engineering and Information Technology•May 15, 2024•2 citations
Due to the importance of securing electronic transactions, many cryptographic protocols have been employed, that mainly depend on distributed keys between the intended parties. In classical computers, the security of these protocols depends on the mathematical complexity of the encoding functions and on the length of the key. However, the existing classical algorithms 100% breakable with enough computational power, which can be provided by quantum machines. Moving to quantum computation, the field of security shifts into a new area of cryptographic solutions which is now the field of quantum cryptography. The era of quantum computers is at its beginning. There are few practical implementations and evaluations of quantum protocols. Therefore, the paper defines a well-known quantum key distribution protocol which is BB84 then provides a practical implementation of it on IBM QX software. The practical implementations showed that there were differences between BB84 theoretical expected results and the practical implementation results. Due to this, the paper provides a statistical analysis of the experiments by comparing the standard deviation of the results. Using the BB84 protocol the existence of a third-party eavesdropper can be detected. Thus, calculations of the probability of detecting/not detecting a third-party eavesdropping have been provided. These values are again compared to the theoretical expectation. The calculations showed that with the greater number of qubits, the percentage of detecting eavesdropper will be higher.
Cryptography is being introduced to secure data. Through Classical Cryptographic technique, we can encrypt our data and secure secret key also. But classical cryptography is based on mathematical techniques where reversing one-way function is possible with sufficient computing power and time. So, Quantum Cryptography is introduced to overcome those drawbacks of traditional classical cryptography. It is based on the values of quantum mechanics and photon. Scientists and researchers have brought up a new key distribution protocol based on Quantum Cryptography is called Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Protocol. The first QKD protocol BB84 was introduced by Charles Bennett and Gilles Brassard in 1984. After that several QKD protocols have been created. In this paper we have improved BB84 Protocol by removing the drawbacks of the existing algorithm towards Eavesdropping which may not be detected or disclosing large portion of secret key. Steps of the existing BB84 algorithm along with the modified one is described in detail with example and pseudo code. Limitations of BB84 and comparative study of both the existing and the improved one based on their security has been made and described in this current work.
Quantum cryptography is a practical method of secret communication that guarantees the foolproof secrecy. This paper presents the simulation for implementation of a Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) protocol BB84, the pioneering, and most basic and fundamental protocol. We use the quantum computing platform developed by IBM named as Qiskit for the simulation of the BB84 protocol, implementing it with and without an Eve eavesdropper for studying the relative outcomes. Recently, Qiskit is globally very popular for quantum simulations because it provide us the opportunity to simulate quantum logic circuit on classical computer as well as real quantum computers owned by IBM. As per our best knowledge, there is no any proposal published for quantum circuit by anyone for BB84 QKD. We performed experimentation on local as well as cloud simulators: 1) The "qasm_simulator" was used as local machine simulator, and 2) The "ibmqx2" simulator was used as IBM cloud quantum simulator. The outcome of local as well as IBM simulator with and without an eavesdropper, between the two parties involved in key exchange were recorded and presented in the results section.
The rapid progress of quantum computing demands secure communication protocols which are beyond classical cryptographic techniques. This necessity of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is met by providing security relying on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. In the work presented, the BB84 protocol is implemented using Qiskit platform provided by IBM. The performance is analyzed for both the ideal channel conditions and an intercept–resend eavesdropping scenario studying its security behavior and performance. 100% key agreement is observed with a QBER of 0% for the BB84 protocol executed under the ideal condition. When an eavesdropper is introduced, the QBER increases significantly, ranging from 16% to 38%, exceeding the acceptable security threshold of 11% and resulting in complete rejection of the generated key. Performance analysis carried out for key sizes between 100 and 1000 qubits shows that the execution time follows O(n) trend growing linearly. This simulation validates the correct operation of the BB84 protocol and demonstrates a detailed performance and security analysis of a QKD system using IBM Qiskit.
Quantum key distribution (QKD) enables secure communication using the principles of quantum physics. The BB84 protocol is not only effective for secure key sharing but also for detecting eavesdropping. This study simulates a computational model of QKD and analyzes error rates under varying numbers of bits. Using Python-based simulations with n = 10, n = 100, and n = 1000 bits, and a fixed noise probability of 0.02, we evaluated scenarios both with and without eavesdropping over 1000 trials. The results show an average error rate of 2% without eavesdropping and over 26% with eavesdropping. Standard deviation increases with lower n, indicating higher variability. This study validates BB84’s robustness under noise and demonstrates its sensitivity to third-party interference.
Security awareness is one of the most pressing topics in today's globe. The idea of cryptography is introduced when the subject is information security. Conventional cryptography-based security techniques rely on the presumption that keys are shared before secure connections. The most crucial factor to consider when integrating cryptographic operations into account when integrating cryptographic operations in with any system is the safe key management strategy required for sending and transferring a secret key between two entities The systems will be vulnerable to bugs and possibly fatal external assaults if the fundamental management methods are poor A method for securely encrypting data sent between parties is quantum cryptography. and spotting eavesdroppers trying to overhear the conversation. Quantum cryptography may be the solution to these issues a quantum cryptography application, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), refers to the production of a cryptographic key with unconditional security assured by physical rules. Quantum cryptography is a kind of encryption. We examine the quantum key exchange protocol (BB84 protocol) in this study and the way that it significantly improves data transfer security when compared to standard encryption techniques. The main objective of quantum cryptography is to offer a trustworthy way to provide a secure method of communication between the intended peers only and to detect the Eavesdropper presence.
Classical cryptographic systems are increasingly challenged by advances in computing power and new algorithmic techniques, particularly with the rise of quantum computing, which threatens the security of current encryption methods. This has spurred interest in quantum-resistant cryptography, aimed at creating algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum computers. Traditionally, secure key transport over alternate channels has been a significant challenge, but quantum mechanics offers a solution. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a revolutionary method for secure communication that leverages quantum principles. Unlike traditional methods, QKD provides unconditional security, with key security ensured by the laws of physics rather than computational difficulty. The BB84 protocol, introduced in 1984 by Bennett and Brassard, is a leading QKD scheme known for its simplicity and effectiveness in generating eavesdropping-resistant cryptographic keys. It facilitates secure key transport over alternate channels. This documentation aims to advance QKD security by practically implementing and analyzing the BB84 protocol. Through detailed theoretical analysis, simulation studies, and experimental validation, the practical impacts, and limitations of BB84-based QKD systems are examined. Additionally, a practical implementation of quantum key distribution using a sudoku key demonstrates the process's simplicity and effectiveness. These findings are expected to pave new paths in the field of cryptanalysis in the emerging Quantum Age.