Abstract As quantum systems move towards practical deployment, there is a need to prioritize research focused on security risks and mitigation strategies. This paper presents the current literature on vulnerabilities in different hardware implementations of quantum computers and categorizes vulnerabilities based on underlying qubit technology. The review also examines attack methodology, source, impact and mitigation strategies for two types of hardware vulnerabilities: crosstalk and side channel attacks. The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of the evolution of quantum vulnerability research at hardware level and to highlight the need to implement security into the design of quantum computers from its early stages.
Abstract As quantum systems move towards practical deployment, there is a need to prioritize research focused on security risks and mitigation strategies. This paper presents the current literature on vulnerabilities in different hardware implementations of quantum computers and categorizes vulnerabilities based on underlying qubit technology. The review also examines attack methodology, source, impact and mitigation strategies for two types of hardware vulnerabilities: crosstalk and side channel attacks. The aim of this paper is to provide an understanding of the evolution of quantum vulnerability research at hardware level and to highlight the need to implement security into the design of quantum computers from its early stages.
Quantum computing is becoming increasingly widespread due to the potential and capabilities to solve complex problems beyond the scope of classical computers. As Quantum Cloud services are adopted by businesses and research groups, they allow for greater progress and application in many fields. However, the inherent vulnerabilities of these environments pose significant security concerns. This survey delivers a comprehensive analysis of the security challenges that emerged in quantum cloud systems, with a distinct focus on multi-tenant vulnerabilities and the classical-quantum interface. Key threats such as crosstalk attacks, quantum-specific side-channel vulnerabilities, and insider threats are all examined, as well as their effects on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of quantum circuits. The design and implementation of various quantum architectures from quantum cloud providers are also discussed. In addition, this paper delves into emerging quantum security solutions and best practices to mitigate these risks. This survey offers insights into current research gaps and proposes future directions for secure and resilient quantum cloud infrastructures.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) promises information-theoretic security based on the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics. However, practical implementations deviate from idealized models and are therefore susceptible to side-channel attacks that exploit physical imperfections rather than theoretical vulnerabilities. Over the past two decades, a wide range of attacks have been demonstrated against QKD systems, including those targeting detectors, sources, timing information, power consumption, and electromagnetic emissions. This paper addresses a selection of a few side-channel attacks reported in the literature, classifying them according to their underlying physical mechanisms and attack strategies. We analyze their impact on the security of different QKD protocols and platforms, and highlight how experimental demonstrations have shaped the community's understanding of implementation security. In addition, we present and evaluate mitigation techniques proposed to date, such as device-independent and measurement-device-independent QKD, hardware countermeasures, monitoring strategies, and so on. We also identify open challenges and promising directions for enhancing the robustness of future quantum communication systems.
Crosstalk noise derives from phenomena in quantum devices which inhibit individual addressability or cause unintended interactions among qubits. It is widely considered one of the major problems to be solved for a quantum computing platform to operate at scales beyond one or two qubits. Despite this, detailed discussion of crosstalk is often neglected when quantum device performance is described both in the context of device benchmarking and individual algorithm execution. Additionally, while the potential for crosstalk exists in all quantum platforms, the mechanisms and severity of crosstalk between platforms varies significantly, increasing the barrier of entry associated with understanding and performing research on unfamiliar quantum platforms. While previous work focused on theoretical formalism or platform specific details, in this review article, we provide a comprehensive overview of crosstalk from quantum computing literature across a range of physical systems focusing on physical origins, methods of mitigation and known consequential security vulnerabilities. We describe multiple crosstalk mechanisms for all major quantum computing platforms, which are usually implicitly addressed through device design, tuning, and mitigation techniques. We also observe accelerating research regarding security implications, however with multiple avenues for further exploration, especially for non-superconducting systems. Together, this review provides a comprehensive entry point for researchers and industry engineers interested in understanding and addressing the challenges arising from crosstalk phenomena in modern quantum computing systems.
The rapid advancement of quantum computing presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant threats to modern cybersecurity. As quantum processors progress toward practical large-scale deployment, widely used cryptographic systems, particularly RSA, ECC, and other public-key mechanisms, face the risk of becoming obsolete. This review examines how quantum technologies can be strategically leveraged to enhance cybersecurity while simultaneously addressing the vulnerabilities introduced by quantum-enabled attacks. A systematic analysis of 35-40 peer-reviewed studies was conducted to evaluate developments in post-quantum cryptography, quantum-resistant security protocols, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), and hybrid classical–quantum defense architectures. The findings reveal a rapidly evolving research landscape focused on resilient lattice-based cryptography, scalable quantum-safe communication frameworks, and early-stage quantum machine learning applications for intrusion detection. The review highlights both the promise and current limitations of quantum-driven security solutions, including hardware constraints, integration challenges, and the need for global standardization. The study underscores the urgency for governments, industries, and researchers to adopt quantum-ready cybersecurity strategies and accelerate the transition to quantum-resilient infrastructures.
The rapid advancement of quantum computing poses a critical threat to traditional cryptographic methods grounded in computational complexity. As quantum computers progress, their ability to undermine existing cryptographic systems necessitates the emergence of quantum-safe cryptographic techniques. Quantum cryptography, offering protocols impervious to algorithmic and computational progress, offers a promising solution. However, ensuring the practical implementation of these protocols aligns with theoretical security is essential. This research article aims to enhance the implementation security of quantum cryptography. It focuses on bridging the gap between theoretical security and practical realization of quantum cryptographic protocols. By addressing potential vulnerabilities and side-channel attacks, the research work proposes strategies to fortify system security. The investigation also includes exploring techniques for validating and certifying the security of quantum cryptographic systems. The research questions include identifying vulnerabilities, quantifying information leakage, suggesting hardware and protocol adjustments for improved security, investigating quantum correlations for hardware testing, and collaborating on standards. The methodology involves a comprehensive literature review, vulnerability identification, leakage quantification, strategy proposal, experimental validation, and partnership for standards. Expected outcomes involve the identification of vulnerabilities, methods to quantify information leakage, proposed strategies, experimentally validated solutions, and contribution to security standards. Ultimately, this research will empower the development of robust quantum cryptographic systems resilient to potential threats. By enhancing quantum cryptography's implementation security, it will facilitate the adoption of quantum-safe cryptographic techniques in the face of evolving quantum computing technologies.
Quantum computers pose a significant threat to blockchain technology's security, which heavily relies on public-key cryptography and hash functions. The cryptographic algorithms used in blockchains, based on large odd prime numbers and discrete logarithms, can be easily compromised by quantum computing algorithms like Shor's algorithm and its future qubit variations. This survey paper comprehensively examines the impact of quantum computers on blockchain security and explores potential mitigation strategies. We begin by surveying the existing literature on blockchains and quantum computing, providing insights into the current state of research. We then present an overview of blockchain, highlighting its key components and functionalities. We delve into the preliminaries and key definitions of quantum computing, establishing a foundation for understanding the implications on blockchain security. The application of blockchains in cybersecurity is explored, considering their strengths and vulnerabilities in light of evolving quantum computing capabilities. The survey focuses on the quantum security of blockchain's fundamental building blocks, including digital signatures, hash functions, consensus algorithms, and smart contracts. We analyze the vulnerabilities introduced by quantum computers and discuss potential countermeasures and enhancements to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of blockchain systems. Furthermore, we investigate the quantum attack surface of blockchains, identifying potential avenues for exploiting quantum computing to strengthen existing attacks. We emphasize the need for developing quantum-resistant defenses and explore solutions for mitigating the threat of quantum computers to blockchains, including the adoption of quantum and post-quantum blockchain architectures. By examining vulnerabilities and discussing mitigation strategies, we aim to guide researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in developing robust and secure blockchain systems capable of withstanding advancements in quantum computing technology.