With the dawn of quantum computing in scale, current secure classical primitives are at risk. Protocols with immediate risk of breach are those built on the advanced encryption standard (AES) and Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithms. To secure classical data against a quantum adversary, a secure communications ciphersuite must be developed. The ciphersuite developed in this work contains components that do not necessarily rely on quantum key distribution (QKD), due to recent insecurities found when a QKD-based protocol is faced with a quantum eavesdropper. A set of quantum-classical ciphersuite primitives were developed using less common mathematical methods where a quantum adversary will take a non-deterministic polynomial-time to find a solution, but still easy enough for communicating classical computers to evaluate. The methods utilized for this work were created from random walks, lattices, symplectic mappings, combinatorics, and others. The hardware methods developed in this work rely on either classical laser-light, or entangled quantum states, with matching optimization developed from global optimization theories. The result of this work is the creation of non-QKD hybrid quantum-classical set of secure ciphersuite primitives, built and expanded from existing classical and post-quantum security schemes, for both classical and quantum information. In the tight integration between quantum and classical computers, the security of classical systems with quantum interaction is essential.
With the dawn of quantum computing in scale, current secure classical primitives are at risk. Protocols with immediate risk of breach are those built on the advanced encryption standard (AES) and Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA) algorithms. To secure classical data against a quantum adversary, a secure communications ciphersuite must be developed. The ciphersuite developed in this work contains components that do not necessarily rely on quantum key distribution (QKD), due to recent insecurities found when a QKD-based protocol is faced with a quantum eavesdropper. A set of quantum-classical ciphersuite primitives were developed using less common mathematical methods where a quantum adversary will take a non-deterministic polynomial-time to find a solution, but still easy enough for communicating classical computers to evaluate. The methods utilized for this work were created from random walks, lattices, symplectic mappings, combinatorics, and others. The hardware methods developed in this work rely on either classical laser-light, or entangled quantum states, with matching optimization developed from global optimization theories. The result of this work is the creation of non-QKD hybrid quantum-classical set of secure ciphersuite primitives, built and expanded from existing classical and post-quantum security schemes, for both classical and quantum information. In the tight integration between quantum and classical computers, the security of classical systems with quantum interaction is essential.
The emergence of quantum computing poses a significant threat to classical cryptographic systems, particularly those relying on mathematical hardness assumptions for key exchange. While symmetric algorithms such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) remain efficient and widely deployed, their long-term security ultimately depends on the secrecy of keys. In this paper, we present a hybrid framework that integrates quantum key distribution (QKD) with AES and DES to enhance key security without altering cipher internals. Using the BB84 protocol as the quantum key generator, we implement a simulation-based system in Qiskit and evaluate it against classical pseudo-random key generation.Our methodology covers five phases: establishing AES/DES baselines, generating quantum random keys, implementing BB84 with basis reconciliation and error detection, integrating quantum keys with AES/DES, and benchmarking across varying key sizes and file sizes. Results demonstrate that AES encryption throughput remains stable (around 250–370 MB/s) regardless of key source, while QKD introduces measurable latency in key generation (around 40–110 seconds for 128–256 bits). Importantly, adversarial interference is reliably detected, with 97.3% accuracy in eavesdropper identification.The findings confirm that while classical systems excel in speed and scalability, QKD offers unmatched, physics-backed security assurances. Our study highlights the practicality of hybrid quantum-classical encryption, providing a foundation for secure communication in the post-quantum era.
Traditional encryption techniques face serious threats from the rapid development of quantum computing, which could soon compromise many classical algorithms. To address this, new quantum-resistant security methods are needed to protect private data and communications. This paper proposes a hybrid encryption approach that integrates quantum key distribution (QKD) with a simplified 3×3 advanced encryption standard (AES) key matrix, creating a lightweight system. The objective is to provide an efficient encryption method suitable for devices with limited processing power, such as IoT devices. The model was simulated using Qiskit, achieving an average quantum bit error rate of 0.00%, protocol efficiency of 49.72 %, and quantum fidelity of 1.000 under certain conditions. During eavesdropping scenarios, the error rate increased to 16.90 %. The simplified AES achieved a 50.14 % avalanche effect and an encryption time of 0.3073 ms, reducing latency by 17 % compared to standard AES. These results suggest that combining QKD with lightweight AES can provide quantum resilience and computational efficiency, offering a practical solution for secure communication in the post-quantum era.
This research aims to establish a secure system for key exchange by using post-quantum cryptography (PQC) schemes in the classic channel of quantum key distribution (QKD). Modern cryptography faces significant threats from quantum computers, which can solve classical problems rapidly. PQC schemes address critical security challenges in QKD, particularly in authentication and encryption, to ensure the reliable communication across quantum and classical channels. The other objective of this study is to balance security and communication speed among various PQC algorithms in different security levels, specifically CRYSTALS-Kyber, CRYSTALS-Dilithium, and Falcon, which are finalists in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization project. The quantum channel of QKD is simulated with Qiskit, which is a comprehensive and well-supported tool in the field of quantum computing. By providing a detailed analysis of the performance of these three algorithms with Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA), the results will guide companies and organizations in selecting an optimal combination for their QKD systems to achieve a reliable balance between efficiency and security. Our findings demonstrate that the implemented PQC schemes effectively address security challenges posed by quantum computers, while keeping the the performance similar to RSA.
Quantum computing is posing a serious risk to classical cryptographic tools such as RSA and ECC as sophisticated quantum algorithms are able to crack their mathematical foundation in a time bound that is a a polynomial in the number of repetitions. In this paper, we will describe the process of integrating Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) into a hybrid approach to secure communications in the post-quantum world. The suggested methodology is a combination of the computational efficiency and scalability of PQC and the information-theoretic security and eavesdropping detection abilities of QKD. Simulation observations indicate that PQC-only systems are both faster in generating keys and scalable, but do not have a strong eavesdropping detection. On the other hand, non-conditional security is only a feature of systems based on QKD, but it is also highly overhead and slows down key rate. The hybrid PQC-Q KD model provides a balanced performance, high resilience, high authentication, high confidentiality, and realistic deployability. On balance, this discussion demonstrates that the hybrid approach is better than standalone methods and can provide a strong solution to protect against new quantum threats. The large-scale network protocol can be optimized, resources and further integration with other emerging technologies, such as 5G/6G, IoT or cloud computing, can be directed in future research.
Quantum computing represents a transformative advancement in computational power, with profound implications for cryptographic systems. This paper explores the intersection of quantum computing and cryptography, examining the potential for quantum computers to both break traditional cryptographic algorithms and enable new forms of secure communication. Classical cryptographic systems, such as RSA and ECC, rely on the computational difficulty of problems like integer factorization and discrete logarithms. However, quantum algorithms, notably Shor's algorithm, can solve these problems exponentially faster than the best-known classical algorithms, posing a significant threat to the security of current cryptographic practices. This vulnerability necessitates the development and implementation of quantum-resistant algorithms to ensure data security in a post-quantum world. The paper reviews the state-of-the-art in quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms, including lattice-based, hash-based, code-based, and multivariate polynomial cryptography. These algorithms are analyzed for their security properties, efficiency, and practicality for real-world deployment. Additionally, the paper discusses the ongoing standardization efforts led by organizations such as NIST, which are crucial for establishing widely accepted quantum-safe cryptographic protocols. Beyond the threat posed by quantum computing, this paper also highlights the potential benefits quantum computing can bring to cryptographic systems. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is one such advancement, offering theoretically unbreakable encryption by leveraging the principles of quantum mechanics. QKD enables secure communication channels that are immune to any computational advances, including those of quantum computers, by ensuring that any attempt at eavesdropping can be detected. The practical implementation challenges of QKD and other quantum cryptographic protocols are also addressed, including issues related to transmission distance, error rates, and integration with existing communication infrastructures. Experimental results from recent QKD trials are presented, showcasing significant progress in extending the viability of quantum-secure communication over long distances. Furthermore, the paper delves into the hybrid approaches combining classical and quantum cryptographic techniques. These approaches aim to leverage the strengths of both paradigms to enhance security and performance. For instance, hybrid protocols might use classical encryption for bulk data transfer, supplemented by quantum techniques for key exchange, thereby ensuring robust security even against future quantum adversaries. In conclusion, while quantum computing poses substantial risks to existing cryptographic systems, it also offers novel opportunities for creating highly secure communication protocols. The transition to quantum-safe cryptography is imperative to protect sensitive information in the quantum era. This paper underscores the urgency of advancing quantum-resistant cryptographic research, promoting international collaboration for standardization, and exploring innovative applications of quantum technologies in cryptography. Continued research and development in these areas are essential to stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape and harness the full potential of quantum computing for secure communications.
Once a cryptographically relevant quantum computer is built, confidential information that is communicated today can be decrypted and exposed. Key exchange methods currently used can then be broken and the key used to protect the data can be recovered. Depending on the duration for which information needs to remain confidential, quantum-safe solutions have to be used now to protect data transmitted today. In this paper, we review recent advances in integrating the combination of two different quantum-safe solutions, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), in existing protocols. We also combine classical cryptography, PQC and QKD to securely exchange a key that remains secure even if only one of the three key exchange methods is secure. This is one of the first steps to update existing communication methods such that they remain secure even if only one of PQC, QKD or classical cryptography is secure.