Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing

In practical quantum key distribution systems, imperfect physical devices open security loopholes that challenge the core promise of this technology. Apart from various side channels, a vulnerability of single-photon detectors to blinding attacks has been one of the biggest concerns and has been add...

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Main Authors: Lijiong Shen, Christian Kurtsiefer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AIP Publishing LLC 2025-01-01
Series:APL Photonics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0233772
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author Lijiong Shen
Christian Kurtsiefer
author_facet Lijiong Shen
Christian Kurtsiefer
author_sort Lijiong Shen
collection DOAJ
description In practical quantum key distribution systems, imperfect physical devices open security loopholes that challenge the core promise of this technology. Apart from various side channels, a vulnerability of single-photon detectors to blinding attacks has been one of the biggest concerns and has been addressed both by technical means as well as advanced protocols. In this work, we present a countermeasure against such attacks based on self-testing of detectors to confirm their intended operation without relying on specific aspects of their inner working and to reveal any manipulation attempts. We experimentally demonstrate this countermeasure with a typical InGaAs avalanche photodetector, but the scheme can be easily implemented with any single photon detector.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2378-0967
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series APL Photonics
spelling doaj-art-cd812f7b93ce446a94b78fae1746280c2025-02-03T16:36:22ZengAIP Publishing LLCAPL Photonics2378-09672025-01-01101016106016106-610.1063/5.0233772Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testingLijiong Shen0Christian Kurtsiefer1School of Physics, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311121, ChinaCentre for Quantum Technologies, National University of Singapore, 3 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117543In practical quantum key distribution systems, imperfect physical devices open security loopholes that challenge the core promise of this technology. Apart from various side channels, a vulnerability of single-photon detectors to blinding attacks has been one of the biggest concerns and has been addressed both by technical means as well as advanced protocols. In this work, we present a countermeasure against such attacks based on self-testing of detectors to confirm their intended operation without relying on specific aspects of their inner working and to reveal any manipulation attempts. We experimentally demonstrate this countermeasure with a typical InGaAs avalanche photodetector, but the scheme can be easily implemented with any single photon detector.http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0233772
spellingShingle Lijiong Shen
Christian Kurtsiefer
Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
APL Photonics
title Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
title_full Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
title_fullStr Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
title_full_unstemmed Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
title_short Countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self-testing
title_sort countering detector manipulation attacks in quantum communication through detector self testing
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/5.0233772
work_keys_str_mv AT lijiongshen counteringdetectormanipulationattacksinquantumcommunicationthroughdetectorselftesting
AT christiankurtsiefer counteringdetectormanipulationattacksinquantumcommunicationthroughdetectorselftesting