The rapid integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) has significantly expanded the attack surface of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication systems.These networks exchange large volume of safety-critical data in realtime, which increases their exposure to attacks like message tampering, identity spoofing, and coordinated injection.Traditional cryptographic systems become more suspectable to emerging quantum computing threats, whereas the existing intrusion detection systems suffer from high latency, static encryption, and increased energy consumption due to frequent vehicular movement.These challenges restrict the ability of current systems to guarantee secure, real-time, energy-efficient, and sustainable communication for next-generation AVs.To address these challenges, this study introduced a novel Quantum-Enhanced Lightweight Protocol (QELP) that combines hybrid quantum-classical security mechanisms with adaptive encryption orchestration to improve security, real-time performance, and sustainable operation in IoT-enabled autonomous vehicle sensor networks.QELP combines BB84based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and lattice-based post-quantum cryptography (Kyber+) to establish quantum-resilient session keys.The context-aware encryption method dynamically adjusts the encryption intensity and key refresh rate based on residual energy, traffic density, anomaly score, and vehicular mobility to balance security strength and computational overhead.The model includes multi-layer error and attack detection techniques, including quantum-based intrusion alerts, digital signature validation, and behavioural deviation checks.The VeReMi and CARLA-NS3 datasets are employed for message-based V2X attack validation and to assess the networklevel behavior under real-time traffic scenarios.The performance is evaluated by simulations using Python (Qiskit) for quantum layers and NS3 for AV networks.The simulation results outperform with 98.76% attack detection rate, 0.015 false alarm rate, 13.7ms latency, 12.2% energy depletion score, 94.6% security risk score reduction towards a stronger quantumresilient defense and an encryption throughput improvement to 96.8%, handling encrypted data at high speed.The findings confirm that QELP provides a scalable, quantum-resilient, and energy-aware security architecture for next-generation autonomous vehicular communication systems.
The rapid integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) has significantly expanded the attack surface of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication systems.These networks exchange large volume of safety-critical data in realtime, which increases their exposure to attacks like message tampering, identity spoofing, and coordinated injection.Traditional cryptographic systems become more suspectable to emerging quantum computing threats, whereas the existing intrusion detection systems suffer from high latency, static encryption, and increased energy consumption due to frequent vehicular movement.These challenges restrict the ability of current systems to guarantee secure, real-time, energy-efficient, and sustainable communication for next-generation AVs.To address these challenges, this study introduced a novel Quantum-Enhanced Lightweight Protocol (QELP) that combines hybrid quantum-classical security mechanisms with adaptive encryption orchestration to improve security, real-time performance, and sustainable operation in IoT-enabled autonomous vehicle sensor networks.QELP combines BB84based Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and lattice-based post-quantum cryptography (Kyber+) to establish quantum-resilient session keys.The context-aware encryption method dynamically adjusts the encryption intensity and key refresh rate based on residual energy, traffic density, anomaly score, and vehicular mobility to balance security strength and computational overhead.The model includes multi-layer error and attack detection techniques, including quantum-based intrusion alerts, digital signature validation, and behavioural deviation checks.The VeReMi and CARLA-NS3 datasets are employed for message-based V2X attack validation and to assess the networklevel behavior under real-time traffic scenarios.The performance is evaluated by simulations using Python (Qiskit) for quantum layers and NS3 for AV networks.The simulation results outperform with 98.76% attack detection rate, 0.015 false alarm rate, 13.7ms latency, 12.2% energy depletion score, 94.6% security risk score reduction towards a stronger quantumresilient defense and an encryption throughput improvement to 96.8%, handling encrypted data at high speed.The findings confirm that QELP provides a scalable, quantum-resilient, and energy-aware security architecture for next-generation autonomous vehicular communication systems.
The rapid proliferation of autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) has created unprecedented cybersecurity challenges for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication systems that are vulnerable to quantum computing attacks and sophisticated adversarial strategies. This research presents a novel hybrid quantum key distribution (QKD) framework specifically designed for high-mobility vehicular environments, integrating satellite-based and terrestrial quantum communication infrastructure with mobile-optimized protocols. We propose the Mobile Quantum Key Distribution (M-QKD) protocol that achieves information-theoretic security while meeting stringent real-time performance requirements of safety-critical automotive applications. Our hybrid architecture combines predictive key pre-distribution algorithms, adaptive error correction mechanisms, and distributed key verification protocols to ensure continuous secure communication even at highway speeds exceeding120km/h. Comprehensive simulation results demonstrate 99.9% security assurance with sub-50 ms communication latencies and 98.5% quantum key distribution success rates under challenging vehicular mobility conditions. The proposed framework represents the first practical quantum-secured V2V communication system capable of providing unconditional security guarantees while maintaining compatibility with existing V2X standards and infrastructure.
The rise of autonomous vehicles (AVs) has led to an increased reliance on vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication networks to ensure real-time information sharing, situational awareness, and cooperative decision-making. However, the integration of quantum computing into cybersecurity threatens the cryptographic foundations upon which current V2V communication protocols rely. As quantum computers grow closer to practical implementation, traditional public-key encryption schemes—such as RSA and ECC—are rendered vulnerable to attacks from quantum algorithms like Shor’s and Grover’s. This review explores the necessity of adopting quantum-resistant cryptographic protocols to secure V2V communication frameworks. The study critically examines post-quantum cryptographic algorithms, including lattice-based, hash-based, code-based, multivariate polynomial, and isogeny-based schemes, with a focus on their applicability to latency-sensitive and resource-constrained vehicular environments. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the performance, scalability, and implementation challenges of integrating these cryptographic primitives into real-time autonomous systems. Case studies of pilot implementations and emerging research are reviewed to highlight the practicality of these protocols in vehicular edge computing and 5G-enabled automotive networks. The paper concludes by proposing a forward-looking roadmap for standardization and integration of quantum-resilient cryptography in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), ensuring long-term data integrity, authentication, and privacy across V2V infrastructures.
The rapid expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, as traditional cryptographic methods struggle to provide both efficiency and quantum resistance in resource-constrained environments. This research introduces Adaptive Quantum Cryptography (AQC), a novel security framework that integrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs), and AI-driven dynamic adaptation to safeguard IoT networks against evolving cyber threats. Unlike classical encryption techniques such as RSA and ECC, which are vulnerable to quantum attacks, AQC leverages quantum mechanical principles—such as superposition, entanglement, and the no-cloning theorem—to ensure provably secure key exchange and data encryption. The proposed AQC system dynamically adjusts cryptographic protocols based on real-time network conditions, computational resources, and threat intelligence, optimizing security without imposing excessive overhead. Experimental evaluations demonstrate that AQC achieves a 70% improvement in key exchange efficiency, a 50% reduction in computational load, and a 95% resilience rate against quantum attacks compared to conventional encryption methods. Additionally, the integration of QRNGs enhances cryptographic key entropy, while AI-driven anomaly detection enables proactive threat mitigation. This framework is particularly suited for next-generation IoT applications, including smart grids, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation, where security, scalability, and energy efficiency are critical. By combining quantum-resistant algorithms with adaptive security mechanisms, AQC provides forward secrecy, resistance to quantum adversaries, and robust authentication, ensuring long-term protection for IoT ecosystems in the post-quantum era. The findings underscore AQC’s potential as a foundational security architecture for future quantum-safe IoT networks.
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication is a critical enabler of autonomous driving, supporting real-time information exchange among vehicles, roadside infrastructure, pedestrians, and cloud services. However, the security of current V2X systems largely relies on classical cryptographic mechanisms, which are expected to become vulnerable in the presence of large-scale quantum computers. Given the long operational lifespan and stringent safety requirements of autonomous vehicular networks, the transition toward quantum-resistant authentication and key management mechanisms has become increasingly important. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of post-quantum Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) protocols for secure V2X communications. The survey systematically reviews V2X communication architectures, security and privacy requirements, existing authentication frameworks, and emerging post-quantum cryptographic approaches. Representative AKA schemes and NIST-standardized post-quantum algorithms are comparatively analyzed in terms of security strength, computational complexity, communication overhead, storage requirements, scalability, and deployment suitability for resource-constrained vehicular environments. The survey further examines practical implementation challenges, including latency constraints, bandwidth limitations, signature size expansion, memory consumption, and hardware resource requirements. The analysis reveals that achieving quantum-resistant security in V2X networks requires balancing strong cryptographic protection with the stringent performance demands of safety-critical vehicular applications. While recent post-quantum approaches offer promising security guarantees against quantum adversaries, their practical deployment remains constrained by computational and communication overhead. Finally, this survey identifies key research gaps and outlines future directions for the development of lightweight, scalable, and quantum-resilient AKA frameworks capable of supporting next-generation autonomous transportation systems. The findings provide researchers and practitioners with a structured understanding of the opportunities, limitations, and challenges associated with securing future V2X communications in the quantum era.
Advanced connection and autonomous features are being made possible by the Internet of Vehicles (IoV), which is causing a revolution in transportation. Strong security measures are required, however, because the prevalence of connected devices also increases the likelihood of cyberattacks and data breaches. This study introduces a new method for protecting IoV networks, which combines Blockchain technology with Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), creating a security architecture with two layers. Internet of Vehicles (IoV) technologies enable autonomous driving and real-time data exchange by connecting vehicles to infrastructure and one another. These advancements make things safer and more efficient, but they also put sensitive information at risk of cyberattacks. Modern security measures are essential since traditional encryption methods are becoming more and more insecure. To provide encryption that is theoretically unbreakable, the suggested system uses QKD to create and distribute cryptographic keys based on principles of quantum mechanics. To improve trust and transparency, blockchain technology is used to record these keys and any subsequent transactions in an immutable, distributed ledger. A hybrid architecture, with QKD securing the key exchange and Blockchain ensuring the integrity and authenticity of the communication, is designed as part of the integration process. Improved security and speed have been shown in simulations and prototype implementations of the QKD-Blockchain architecture in IoV networks. By preventing eavesdropping and key interception, the QKD technique kept the communication channel secure. With an average delay of only about 2 milliseconds, QKD performed admirably and was well below the permitted range for real-time vehicular communications. On average, validation durations for transactions were 5 milliseconds, which was a little overhead due to blockchain integration. The system efficiently handled up to 10,000 transactions per second without affecting security or performance, proving that it can serve massive IoV networks, according to scalability testing. Under high-load scenarios, the framework maintained consistent performance and security, proving its robustness in stress tests. Together, QKD and Blockchain provide a scalable and trustworthy option for future vehicular communication networks, and these results show how feasible and robust it is to use them to protect IoV systems. An intriguing approach to the security issues plaguing IoV systems is the integration of QKD with Blockchain technology. An unparalleled level of protection against cyber threats is provided by the dual-layered system, which guarantees strong encryption and data integrity. This fresh method may lead to improved and more trustworthy IoV networks by establishing new benchmarks for secure vehicular communication. In order to optimize the implementation and tackle any new issues that may arise, more research and development should be conducted.
Hybrids in automatic vehicles have brought in aspects of security in intra-sensor communications never seen before. Most of these threats cut across the lengths of conventional cryptographic modes against the advance of quantum computing. The research paper introduces “Q-SafeAV”, which forms an altogether new quantum secure intra-sensor communication structure able to withstand threats specifically from autonomous vehicle (AV) networks. The approach incorporates quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols and post-quantum cryptographic algorithms in the formation of quantum secured channel for communication with informational theoretical security properties between vehicle sensors for ensuring information integrity and authenticity in real-time operational environments. The framework identifies important weaknesses today that exist in current automotive communication protocols while being able to meet stringent latency requirements that are extremely crucial for safety-critical applications. To test and validate the proposed methodology, extensive experimentation were conducted, and it was observed that “Q-SafeAV” shows processing latencies below 10 milliseconds provide it with enhanced security based on quantum mechanical principles, making it suitable for real-time applications in AVs. The experimental results provide quantum-safe protection against both current and future computational attacks. Overall, the research addresses a crucial portion of growing demands for quantum-resilient security frameworks in next-generation autonomous transportation systems.