The Status of Quantum-Based Long-Term Secure Communication over the Internet

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current state and challenges of implementing quantum-based key distribution for long-term secure Internet communication, emphasizing its potential and obstacles for real-world deployment.

Contribution

It systematically analyzes obstacles and strategies for deploying quantum key distribution on the Internet, considering performance, security, and multi-user network challenges.

Findings

Quantum key distribution offers information-theoretic security for long-term data protection.

Significant technical and practical challenges hinder real-world deployment.

Strategies for overcoming obstacles are discussed from multidisciplinary perspectives.

Abstract

Sensitive digital data, such as health information or governmental archives, are often stored for decades or centuries. The processing of such data calls for long-term security. Secure channels on the Internet require robust key establishment methods. Currently used key distribution protocols are either vulnerable to future attacks based on Shor's algorithm, or vulnerable in principle due to their reliance on computational problems. Quantum-based key distribution protocols are information-theoretically secure and offer long-term security. However, significant obstacles to their real-world use remain. This paper, which results from a multidisciplinary project involving computer scientists and physicists, systematizes knowledge about obstacles to and strategies for the realization of long-term secure Internet communication from quantum-based key distribution. We discuss performance and security particulars, consider the specific challenges arising from multi-user network settings, and identify key challenges for actual deployment.