Another review for the AMS

Here is my review of an article on a new zero knowledge identification protocol.

Filed under: AMS, Authentication, Mathematical Reviews

Attacks on Quantum Cryptography

As recently reported in an IEEE On-line magazine, practical implementations of quantum cryptographic systems are exposed to attack. The weakness arises from the need to authenticate the communicating parties. The laws of physic determine that the proverbial eavesdropper Eve will reveal her presence when snooping from a quantum channel.
However, to avoid a trivial man-in-the-middle attack, quantum encryption protocols need to exchange information over a classic channel for authentication purposes. Authentication over a classic channel is subjected to classic attacks targeting the weaknesses of the underlying protocol.
My two comments on this:
Authentication is still ‘the’ problem for many cryptographic systems and;
Prof. Lomonaco’s dictum* is applicable also to quantum encryption.

[*] To be able to communicate in secret one must first communicate in secret

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Filed under: Authentication, Quantum Cryptography, Technology, in the News