Hide and seek with quantum resources: New and modified protocols for quantum steganography

TL;DR

This paper analyzes vulnerabilities in existing quantum steganography protocols and introduces new and modified protocols using continuous variable QKD to enhance security against detection attacks.

Contribution

It identifies security flaws in previous protocols and proposes novel and improved quantum steganography methods resistant to steganalysis.

Findings

Original protocol vulnerabilities are demonstrated.

New protocol using discrete modulation CV-QKD is proposed.

Modified protocols eliminate detection vulnerabilities.

Abstract

Steganography is the science of hiding and communicating a secret message by embedding it in an innocent looking text such that the eavesdropper is unaware of its existence. Previously, attempts were made to establish steganography using quantum key distribution (QKD). Recently, it has been shown that such protocols are vulnerable to a certain steganalysis attack that can detect the presence of the hidden message and suppress the entire communication. In this work, we elaborate on the vulnerabilities of the original protocol which make it insecure against this detection attack. Further, we propose a novel steganography protocol using discrete modulation continuous variable QKD that eliminates the threat of this detection-based attack. Deriving from the properties of our protocol, we also propose modifications in the original protocol to dispose of its vulnerabilities and make it insusceptible to steganalysis.