When using an insecure communication channel, the initial step involves authenticating the user (verifying the other party) to ensure the legitimacy of the communication partner, followed by encrypted communication. Public-key encryption-based digital signatures are widely utilized for user authentication; however, they is highly likely that it will be deciphered with the development of quantum computers. Studies are also being conducted on post-quantum cryptography, although it requires significant computational resources and is challenging to implement in Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Consequently, this study suggests the implementation of user authentication and secure communication that guarantees information-theoretic security through the use of a secure computation based on a computationally light (k, n) threshold secret sharing scheme. In this study, we first propose a user authentication system with information-theoretical security utilizing constantly changing information. Subsequently, we demonstrate that secure communication with information-theoretic security can be achieved without the need to distribute a substantial amount of true random numbers, by employing a secure computation based on (k, n) threshold secret sharing. Our proposed methods are suitable for implementation in an IoT environment, as they require minimal processing overhead. We also demonstrate the practical application of the proposed methods through implementation using C++. For example, the claimant’s average execution time is less than 0.1 [ms], and the proposed methods are very efficient.
When using an insecure communication channel, the initial step involves authenticating the user (verifying the other party) to ensure the legitimacy of the communication partner, followed by encrypted communication. Public-key encryption-based digital signatures are widely utilized for user authentication; however, they is highly likely that it will be deciphered with the development of quantum computers. Studies are also being conducted on post-quantum cryptography, although it requires significant computational resources and is challenging to implement in Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Consequently, this study suggests the implementation of user authentication and secure communication that guarantees information-theoretic security through the use of a secure computation based on a computationally light (k, n) threshold secret sharing scheme. In this study, we first propose a user authentication system with information-theoretical security utilizing constantly changing information. Subsequently, we demonstrate that secure communication with information-theoretic security can be achieved without the need to distribute a substantial amount of true random numbers, by employing a secure computation based on (k, n) threshold secret sharing. Our proposed methods are suitable for implementation in an IoT environment, as they require minimal processing overhead. We also demonstrate the practical application of the proposed methods through implementation using C++. For example, the claimant’s average execution time is less than 0.1 [ms], and the proposed methods are very efficient.
When using an insecure communication channel, the initial step involves authenticating the user (verifying the other party) to ensure the legitimacy of the communication partner, followed by encrypted communication. With the advancement of quantum computers, many conventional cryptographic techniques are at risk of being deciphered. While postquantum cryptographic approaches are under development, they often demand substantial computational resources, making them difficult to implement in resourceconstrained environments such as the Internet of Things (IoT). This study proposes a user authentication and secure communication system that guarantees information-theoretic security by leveraging secure computation based on a computationally lightweight (k, n)-threshold secret sharing scheme. The proposed authentication approach utilizes constantly changing information to prevent replay attacks and enhance security. It is further demonstrated that secure communication with information-theoretic guarantees can be achieved without the need to distribute a large volume of true random numbers, relying instead on secret sharing-based secure computation. The proposed methods are particularly suitable for IoT applications due to their minimal processing overhead and efficient performance.
With the rapid expansion of intelligent devices in the Internet of Things (IoT), ensuring secure and autonomous communication has become increasingly critical. This paper presents a quantum-assisted encryption framework that safeguards between users and IoT devices. By combining quantum cryptographic primitives with blockchain-based identity verification, the scheme achieves confidentiality, authenticity, and resistance to quantum-era threats. Experimental implementation on a real quantum backend validates its feasibility and demonstrates high fidelity and communication efficiency, highlighting its suitability for real-time IoT environments. This work provides a step toward integrating quantum technologies with practical IoT security frameworks under current technological constraints.
The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has revolutionized digital communication, yet it simultaneously poses unprecedented security challenges due to constrained device capabilities and increasing cyber threats. Conventional cryptographic techniques, while currently effective, are vulnerable to emerging quantum computing technologies that threaten to render classical encryption obsolete. This paper explores the integration of quantum-safe cryptographic techniques within IoT networks to ensure long-term confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It examines post-quantum cryptographic primitives, including lattice-based, hash-based, multivariate, and code-based schemes, and evaluates their suitability for resource-constrained IoT environments. The study focuses on lightweight implementation strategies, balancing computational efficiency with robust security requirements. Simulation analyses demonstrate that properly optimized quantum safe protocols can provide resilient encryption, key exchange, and digital signature functionalities without overwhelming device resources. Furthermore, the integration of these techniques with IoT communication standards and secure network protocols ensures end-to-end protection across heterogeneous networks. Challenges such as latency, energy consumption, and scalability are addressed, highlighting the necessity of tailored cryptographic solutions for diverse IoT applications. The findings confirm that quantum safe cryptography is essential for future-proofing IoT networks, offering sustainable security measures that remain resilient against both classical and quantum adversaries, thereby supporting the continued expansion of secure and intelligent interconnected systems.
The demands for secure communication systems have been growing rapidly as technologies in computer networks advance. However, classical cryptography employed in network systems is only secure when malicious users do not have enough computational power to break the security in a practical amount of time. Quantum cryptography provides theoretically unbreakable security since its security relies on quantum mechanical properties. This dissertation resolves the weakness of classical cryptography in computer networks by developing novel cryptographic schemes. First, a new encryption scheme, quantum commutative encryption (QCE), has been developed by utilizing quantum superposition states. The analysis of possible attacks to the developed encryption scheme, the advantages of the developed scheme, and the requirements to utilize the developed scheme in a communication system are presented. Also, an example of realization with current technologies is shown.
Considering all the characteristics of the developed encryption scheme, a key distribution protocol, two authentication protocols, secret sharing scheme, and the possible practical application of the secret sharing scheme are designed by making use of the developed encryption scheme. This dissertation also discusses the security analysis for each developed scheme. All developed quantum cryptographic schemes are theoretically unbreakable and can be realized with current technologies.
The main contributions of this dissertation are not only the proposal of novel schemes, but also a demonstration of how quantum mechanical properties can be utilized in computer engineering/science.
The rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems has introduced significant security challenges due to resource-constrained devices, heterogeneous network architectures, and largescale connectivity. Traditional authentication and key exchange mechanisms, primarily based on classical cryptographic algorithms such as RSA and ECC, are vulnerable to future quantum computing attacks. The emergence of quantum algorithms, particularly Shor’s algorithm, threatens the long-term confidentiality and integrity of IoT communications. This paper proposes a Quantum-Resistant Authentication and Key Exchange Protocol specifically designed for secure IoT architectures. The proposed framework integrates post-quantum cryptographic primitives, including lattice-based key exchange mechanisms and hash-based authentication schemes, optimized for low computational overhead suitable for constrained IoT devices. The protocol ensures mutual authentication, forward secrecy, and resistance against quantum adversaries while maintaining minimal communication latency. Security analysis demonstrates robustness against replay, man-in-the-middle, and key-compromise attacks. Performance evaluation shows that the proposed solution achieves a balance between quantum security strength and resource efficiency, making it suitable for next-generation IoT deployments in smart cities, healthcare systems, and industrial automation.
Abstract As the number and characteristics of smart devices change, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) emerges. The IoT provides the connected devices with a variety of resources that enable effective communication. At this point, several security issues arise to get the sensitive information behind every communication in the IoT. To provide users with security and privacy, cryptographic schemes are adopted, the most popular being public key cryptographic systems (PKC). However, with the advent of quantum computing, the level of security that can be provided by the PKC schemes is a big question. Another important issue is that the IoT environment is resource‐constrained, which necessitates the implementation of lightweight cryptographic algorithms for better security. In response to these issues, the post‐quantum cryptographic (PQC) schemes are one of the significant developments contributing to IoT security in the post‐quantum world. This article examines the key security issues in the IoT environment and examines the effective solutions found in the literature. The problems in IoT in the quantum era are discussed and appropriate solutions by PKC schemes under limited resources in IoT are focused. As the lattice‐based cryptosystems are more effective, the importance of these schemes in the resource‐constrained IoT is highlighted. This survey also leads to feasible future directions that can support developers and researchers in this field.