Secure Quantum Key Distribution

TL;DR

This review discusses the current state, security models, experimental progress, and counter-measures in quantum cryptography, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize secure communication.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of quantum cryptography, including security assumptions, recent experimental advances, and strategies against quantum hacking.

Findings

Quantum cryptography offers theoretically unbreakable security under certain assumptions.

Recent experimental progress has demonstrated practical quantum key distribution systems.

Counter-measures are being developed to address vulnerabilities exposed by quantum hacking.

Abstract

Secure communication plays a crucial role in the Internet Age. Quantum mechanics may revolutionise cryptography as we know it today. In this Review Article, we introduce the motivation and the current state of the art of research in quantum cryptography. In particular, we discuss the present security model together with its assumptions, strengths and weaknesses. After a brief introduction to recent experimental progress and challenges, we survey the latest developments in quantum hacking and counter-measures against it.