The Case for Quantum Key Distribution

Abstract

Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises secure key agreement by using quantum mechanical systems. We argue that QKD will be an important part of future cryptographic infrastructures. It can provide long-term confidentiality for encrypted information without reliance on computational assumptions. Although QKD still requires authentication to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, it can make use of either information-theoretically secure symmetric key authentication or computationally secure public key authentication: even when using public key authentication, we argue that QKD still offers stronger security than classical key agreement.

12 pages, 1 figure; to appear in proceedings of QuantumComm 2009 Workshop on Quantum and Classical Information Security; version 2 minor content revisions

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Cited by in corpus (11)

• Quantum Cryptography Beyond Quantum Key Distribution
• Attacks on practical quantum key distribution systems (and how to prevent them)
• Numerical Calculations of Finite Key Rate for General Quantum Key Distribution Protocols
• A brief introduction of quantum cryptography for engineers
• Composable security against collective attacks of a modified BB84 QKD protocol with information only in one basis
• Forty Thousand Kilometers Under Quantum Protection
• Deploying hybrid quantum-secured infrastructure for applications: When quantum and post-quantum can work together
• Distributed authentication for randomly compromised networks
• A new spin on quantum cryptography: Avoiding trapdoors and embracing public keys
• Quantum Key Distribution in the Classical Authenticated Key Exchange Framework
• From Information Theory Puzzles in Deletion Channels to Deniability in Quantum Cryptography