Q-CERT

Quantum Key Distribution Certification

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The project Q-CERT intends to gather industrial and academic partners with strong scientific and technical backgrounds in quantum key distribution (QKD) technology, in order to establish research partnerships focused on one common high-level objective: strengthen the security of practical QKD systems by developping techniques and standards (both at the hardware and software level) that will allow cryptographic security evaluation and certification At the hardware level, we will conduct systematic studies of the potential vulnerabilities of QKD systems, by testing experimentally the feasibility of attacks on the optical and electronical layer of the systems. We will in response implement experimentally countermeasures, test their efficiency and develop the theoretical framework allowing to model the entire QKD implementation and prove its security. At the software level, we will push further a formal approach of security proof for an essential part of a practical quantum key distribution protocol : key distillation. We will specify and then develop a software library of key distillation that will present a very high-level of security assurance, validated by the use of formal methods for cryptographic protocol verification. This library will in particular include a state-of-the-art error correction module, based on unidirectional LDPC codes. In order to increase the impact of our work, and to benefit from the fruitful interaction and feedback of the research community, we will publicize parts of our results by integrating them in QKD security standards. The development of such security assurance procedures is expected to greatly strengthen the practical security of quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. We will in particular write security targets for a high-performance QKD system, and for a secure infrastructure relying on a network of QKD links.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Quantum key distribution (QKD) utilises quantum mechanics to make encryption highly secure. An EU-funded project is developing common certification standards to boost public confidence in this emerging method of cryptography.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

As any experimental physicist knows, observing a quantum system usually disturbs it. This feature makes quantum cryptography ideal for distribution of highly secure encryption keys.

For instance, QKD uses quantum mechanics to enable two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them. This key can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages. The presence of any third party trying to access the key would immediately be detectable as any attempt to observe the quantum system would disturb it.

With funding from the Seventh Framework Programme's (FP7) People sub-programme, 'Quantum key distribution certification' (Q-CERT) is creating a partnership between academia and industry that will push forward QKD technology.

Tthe project is striving to strengthen the security of QKD systems by developing common hardware and software standards that will facilitate cryptographic security evaluation and certification. Q-CERT is studying attacks on QKD systems, the security of QKD protocols, and the post-processing of raw data, plus developing standards for the security evaluation of QKD implementation.

In addition to organising important events in the field of quantum security, Q-CERT partners have classified the existing attacks against QKD systems and developed counter-measures against several important attacks such as the blinding attack of avalanche photodiodes or saturation attack in continuous variable QKD. The project has also developed a new high-speed QKD system and performed a security analysis.

Q-CERT is due to wind up its activities in mid-2014 at which time the project will have developed and disseminated the framework for a standardised approach to assessing the security of QKD systems. Once adopted, such common standards will enable trusted security certification of QKD systems, which, in turn, will boost public confidence in them.