Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) is the standard for aircraft surveillance and has been required on almost all aircraft within the National Airspace System since 2020. Data transmissions from ADS-B transponders are non-encrypted and, as a result, pose a variety of safety and security risks. Prior research has been conducted that provides solutions for retrofitting ADS-B systems with FPE (format-preserving encryption) algorithms. These require safe key distribution protocols to create the keys between parties. Classical key distribution protocols have been proposed and recently tested with some promise. However, with the rise of quantum computing, there is also a need for protection from future quantum threats. This paper explores the implementation of a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol for the key generation of ADS-B transmissions using an FPE encryption algorithm with both free-space and optical links for air and ground distribution. This creates a level of security bounded by the laws of physics, as opposed to proposed key distribution methods, which are vulnerable to being hacked by both quantum and classical algorithms. Coupled with creating the protocol, a simulation is created to visualize the approach. This research stands to benefit all aircraft, national and international, that implement the ADS-B system, creating an increased sense of security, safety, and order in the air.
Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) is the standard for aircraft surveillance and has been required on almost all aircraft within the National Airspace System since 2020. Data transmissions from ADS-B transponders are non-encrypted and, as a result, pose a variety of safety and security risks. Prior research has been conducted that provides solutions for retrofitting ADS-B systems with FPE (format-preserving encryption) algorithms. These require safe key distribution protocols to create the keys between parties. Classical key distribution protocols have been proposed and recently tested with some promise. However, with the rise of quantum computing, there is also a need for protection from future quantum threats. This paper explores the implementation of a quantum key distribution (QKD) protocol for the key generation of ADS-B transmissions using an FPE encryption algorithm with both free-space and optical links for air and ground distribution. This creates a level of security bounded by the laws of physics, as opposed to proposed key distribution methods, which are vulnerable to being hacked by both quantum and classical algorithms. Coupled with creating the protocol, a simulation is created to visualize the approach. This research stands to benefit all aircraft, national and international, that implement the ADS-B system, creating an increased sense of security, safety, and order in the air.
This research aims to investigate the security concerns of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) communication in the aviation industry and propose the Quantum Key Distribution (BB84) algorithm to generate a symmetric key using the principles of quantum mechanics and use it as a secret key for all encryption/decryption algorithms used in the ADS-B system to increase the security level and avoid any security concerns. ADS-B is a critical technology for air traffic control, providing real-time position and velocity information to air traffic controllers. However, the security of ADS-B communication is a major concern, as it is vulnerable to various security threats, including eavesdropping, data manipulation and injection attacks that could lead to accidents and loss of life. To ensure safe and efficient air travel, A reliable and secure communication system for ADS-B is essential. In this study, we will provide a comprehensive literature review of ADS-B communication and existing encryption methods. We will evaluate the performance of the proposed BB84-Quantum algorithm through simulations and assess its effectiveness in securing ADS-B communication. Our research aims to provide insight into the potential application of the proposed algorithm in the aviation industry. The proposed algorithm's originality lies in its use of quantum mechanics principles to provide secure communication between aircraft and ground stations, ensuring a safe connection for sending and receiving messages in ADS-B packets.
Nowadays, high security levels are required to transmit critical information for government, private and personal sectors. As a countermeasure, the Quantum Key Distribution systems are the best option in order to protect this information because it provides unconditional security. In addition, increasing the transmission distance is a highlight. Therefore, the Free-Space Optical Quantum Key Distribution systems (FSO-QKD) present an innovative way for sharing secure information between two parties located at ground stations, spacecraft or aircraft. However, these scenarios present several challenges regarding the hardware, protocols and techniques used that must be solved in order to enhance the performance parameters (security level, distance link, final secret key rate, among others) for any QKD system; although, in particular, a high transmission performance is required for both the classical and quantum channels. These issues impose the roadmap and trends in the research, academic and manufacturing sectors around the world.
The exponential growth of global telecommunication networks has heightened the need for robust security frameworks to protect data transmission against evolving cyber threats.Traditional encryption techniques, such as RSA and AES, while effective, are increasingly vulnerable to advances in computational power and the impending threat posed by quantum computing.Quantum cryptography, specifically Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), presents a revolutionary approach to securing telecommunication systems by leveraging the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics.Unlike classical encryption methods, QKD guarantees data security through the use of quantum states that are inherently resistant to interception and eavesdropping due to the no-cloning theorem and Heisenberg's uncertainty principle.From a broader perspective, this paper explores the integration of quantum cryptographic protocols into existing telecommunication infrastructures, emphasizing their potential to safeguard data transmission in fiber-optic and satellite communication networks.It examines the architecture and operational mechanisms of QKD systems, detailing protocols such as BB84 and E91, and evaluates their effectiveness in countering both classical and quantum-enabled cyber-attacks.Additionally, the study delves into the challenges of large-scale deployment, including key distribution range limitations, hardware requirements, and the need for quantum repeaters to support long-distance secure communication.Narrowing the focus, case studies on the implementation of quantum cryptography in 5G networks and global telecommunication hubs are analysed, highlighting their role in enhancing network resilience and ensuring end-to-end encryption.The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for policy development, international standardization, and future research directions to facilitate the widespread adoption of quantum cryptography in the telecommunications sector.
As more aspects of modern society depend on digital communication, we increasingly rely on infrastructure that ensures the privacy and security of this communication. Classically, this has been provided by cryptographic protocols such as public-key encryption, in which secrets called keys are exchanged between different parties to enable secure communication. The rapid development of quantum algorithms which violate the assumptions of these protocols, however, poses a security challenge to modern cryptography. \n \nQuantum resources can also be used to strengthen cryptographic security, particularly the security of key exchange protocols. This approach, QKD, can be implemented by encoding in quantum systems such as single photons sent through free-space or a fiber. Fiber based QKD devices are already commercially available, but are fundamentally limited to distributing keys over a few hundred kilometers. To address this distance limitation, research QKD systems are being developed to exchange keys through free-space to satellites. This work considers practical challenges to building and testing both types of QKD devices. \n \nFirstly, we consider modeling and mission analysis for airborne demonstrations of QKD to stratospheric balloons and aircraft to simulate a satellite. Based on the mission parameters available for both platforms, we found aircraft platforms were more promising for testing prototype QKD satellite systems. We developed a mission planning tool to help design the flight geometries for testing the device. \n \nNext, we developed three new components for a QKD satellite prototype. The requirements for electro-optical devices in orbit are very different from lab environments, mandating new approaches to designing QKD devices. We developed a quad single photon detector package to meet the requirements for free-space links to low earth orbit. Moreover, we designed and built optical systems for analyzing the polarization of photons and an adaptive optics unit to increase the efficiency of collecting the encoded photons. All three devices were tested in conditions that simulated the time and loss of a satellite pass. \n \nFinally, we demonstrated a laser damage attack on a live commercial QKD system. Our attack injected additional optical power into the sender device to modify security-critical components. Specifically, our attack damaged the PIN diodes which monitor the encoded photon number, reducing their sensitivity or completely blinding them. Our damage could compromise the entire key, and was performed during system operation while raising no alarms. \n \nIn summary, this work shows the trade-offs of testing QKD payloads on different airborne platforms, develops components for a satellite QKD payload, and demonstrates a security vulnerability in a commercial QKD system that can fully compromise the key. These results help address practical challenges to building QKD devices, improving the security of modern cryptography.
The increasing interconnectivity of aircraft on the one hand and the ongoing development of quantum computers on the other require better cybersecurity solutions, as current encryption and authentication mechanisms are rendered useless by quantum computers, meaning that aircraft communications can be decrypted and altered, leading to catastrophic failures. In particular, aircraft communication and maintenance interfaces that manage critical functions are vulnerable. Attempts to prove a Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) method has not been successful so far. It is questionable whether asymmetric methods can provide this property at all. With Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), it is possible to transmit Postquantum Pre-Shared Key (PPK) over long distances securely from adversaries. Symmetric cryptographic methods can be used on the basis of Pre-Shared Key (PSK), so that quantum attacks, e.g. with the Shor's algorithm, no longer pose a threat. This article shows how the communication of aircraft within the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) can be secured by using a Quantum Key Distribution Network (QKD network) to transmit PSK across this network.
The rise of quantum computing poses a grave threat to current cryptographic methods. While Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) offers a potential solution, guaranteeing its security in real-world implementations remains challenging. This paper addresses the critical need for robust Quantum Encryption algorithms, emphasizing the importance of standardized evaluation criteria and it explores the limitations of existing evaluation methods, highlighting their shortcomings in comprehensively assessing security against both classical and quantum attacks. Furthermore, a comprehensive framework for evaluating and standardizing Quantum Encryption algorithms is proposed. This framework encompasses not only the algorithm itself but also the security of the generated key. By incorporating a broader range of attack scenarios, theoretical considerations, and key-specific criteria, this framework aims to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of communication in the quantum age.This research is believed to make a significant contribution to the development of secure and standardized Quantum Encryption algorithms. The goal is to safeguard critical information infrastructure against evolving threats. Existing works have placed a strong emphasis on standardizing QKD (Quantum Key Distribution). However, the evaluation of the effectiveness of quantum encryption algorithms lacks the same level of standardization. This gap serves as the motivation behind this work.