1,793 research outputs found
Using quantum key distribution for cryptographic purposes: a survey
The appealing feature of quantum key distribution (QKD), from a cryptographic
viewpoint, is the ability to prove the information-theoretic security (ITS) of
the established keys. As a key establishment primitive, QKD however does not
provide a standalone security service in its own: the secret keys established
by QKD are in general then used by a subsequent cryptographic applications for
which the requirements, the context of use and the security properties can
vary. It is therefore important, in the perspective of integrating QKD in
security infrastructures, to analyze how QKD can be combined with other
cryptographic primitives. The purpose of this survey article, which is mostly
centered on European research results, is to contribute to such an analysis. We
first review and compare the properties of the existing key establishment
techniques, QKD being one of them. We then study more specifically two generic
scenarios related to the practical use of QKD in cryptographic infrastructures:
1) using QKD as a key renewal technique for a symmetric cipher over a
point-to-point link; 2) using QKD in a network containing many users with the
objective of offering any-to-any key establishment service. We discuss the
constraints as well as the potential interest of using QKD in these contexts.
We finally give an overview of challenges relative to the development of QKD
technology that also constitute potential avenues for cryptographic research.Comment: Revised version of the SECOQC White Paper. Published in the special
issue on QKD of TCS, Theoretical Computer Science (2014), pp. 62-8
Synchronization of spatiotemporal semiconductor lasers and its application in color image encryption
Optical chaos is a topic of current research characterized by
high-dimensional nonlinearity which is attributed to the delay-induced
dynamics, high bandwidth and easy modular implementation of optical feedback.
In light of these facts, which adds enough confusion and diffusion properties
for secure communications, we explore the synchronization phenomena in
spatiotemporal semiconductor laser systems. The novel system is used in a
two-phase colored image encryption process. The high-dimensional chaotic
attractor generated by the system produces a completely randomized chaotic time
series, which is ideal in the secure encoding of messages. The scheme thus
illustrated is a two-phase encryption method, which provides sufficiently high
confusion and diffusion properties of chaotic cryptosystem employed with unique
data sets of processed chaotic sequences. In this novel method of cryptography,
the chaotic phase masks are represented as images using the chaotic sequences
as the elements of the image. The scheme drastically permutes the positions of
the picture elements. The next additional layer of security further alters the
statistical information of the original image to a great extent along the
three-color planes. The intermediate results during encryption demonstrate the
infeasibility for an unauthorized user to decipher the cipher image. Exhaustive
statistical tests conducted validate that the scheme is robust against noise
and resistant to common attacks due to the double shield of encryption and the
infinite dimensionality of the relevant system of partial differential
equations.Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures; Article in press, Optics Communications (2011
Quantum cryptography: key distribution and beyond
Uniquely among the sciences, quantum cryptography has driven both
foundational research as well as practical real-life applications. We review
the progress of quantum cryptography in the last decade, covering quantum key
distribution and other applications.Comment: It's a review on quantum cryptography and it is not restricted to QK
Practical cryptographic strategies in the post-quantum era
We review new frontiers in information security technologies in
communications and distributed storage technologies with the use of classical,
quantum, hybrid classical-quantum, and post-quantum cryptography. We analyze
the current state-of-the-art, critical characteristics, development trends, and
limitations of these techniques for application in enterprise information
protection systems. An approach concerning the selection of practical
encryption technologies for enterprises with branched communication networks is
introduced.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; review pape
Theory and Practice of Cryptography and Network Security Protocols and Technologies
In an age of explosive worldwide growth of electronic data storage and communications, effective protection of information has become a critical requirement. When used in coordination with other tools for ensuring information security, cryptography in all of its applications, including data confidentiality, data integrity, and user authentication, is a most powerful tool for protecting information. This book presents a collection of research work in the field of cryptography. It discusses some of the critical challenges that are being faced by the current computing world and also describes some mechanisms to defend against these challenges. It is a valuable source of knowledge for researchers, engineers, graduate and doctoral students working in the field of cryptography. It will also be useful for faculty members of graduate schools and universities
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