International Conference on Expert Clouds and Applications (ICOECA)

A Web-Based Quantum Key Distribution Simulator with Adaptive Post-Quantum Cryptography Fallback

Kr. Senthil Murugan, Ernestine Lerisha J, A.M. Rajeswari

Published Mar 9, 2026• 0 citations

Abstract

The rapid advancement of quantum computing poses a critical threat to conventional cryptographic systems such as RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). To address this challenge, two major paradigms have emerged: Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which leverages quantum mechanics for theoretically unbreakable key exchange, and Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), which relies on mathematically hard problems resilient to quantum attacks. Current research demonstrates the potential of integrating. QKD with lattice-based PQC to achieve hybrid quantum resilience; however, most existing works remain theoretical or infrastructure-centric, lacking accessible and interactive implementations. This paper presents the design and implementation of a web-based QKD simulation platform featuring a real-time security scorecard and an automatic PQC fallback mechanism using CRYSTALS-Kyber. Built on the BB84 protocol, the simulator models quantum communication between Alice, Bob, and Eve under various channel conditions and computes key performance metrics such as Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER), Secret Key Rate (SKR), and efficiency, and dynamically switches to Kyber when QKD reliability degrades. Unlike prior studies, the proposed system emphasizes interactivity, visualization, and hybrid resilience, providing a practical tool for education, research, and industry experimentation. The resulting platform bridges the gap between theoretical hybrid cryptography and real-world deployment, advancing the broader adoption of quantum-safe communication systems.

DOI: 10.1109/icoeca68095.2026.11485616

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