Quantum computing security breakthrough

Quantum computing security breakthrough

Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub researchers at the University of Oxford have made a major breakthrough in quantum computing security. 

Using cloud-based quantum computers brings up privacy and security issues similar to those in traditional cloud computing. Users can't keep their work secret from the server or check their results on their own when tasks get too complex for classical simulations.

The new research, based around 'blind quantum computing', allows clients to delegate computations to a quantum server without disclosing sensitive information, such as the results of the computation or even the algorithm used itself, ensuring privacy and security. Their findings, published in Physical Review Letters (PRL), mark a crucial advancement in the field of quantum information processing.

The rapid development of Quantum Computing is paving the way for new applications which could transform services in many areas like healthcare and financial services. it currently requires controlled conditions to remain stable and there are concerns around data authenticity and the effectiveness of current security and encryption systems. Several leading providers of cloud-based services already separately offer some elements of quantum computing. Safeguarding the privacy and security of customer data is a vital precursor to scaling up and expanding its use, and for the development of new applications as the technology advances. The new study by Hub researchers at Oxford University Physics addresses these challenges.

We have shown for the first time that quantum computing in the cloud can be accessed in a scalable, practical way which will also give people complete security and privacy of data, plus the ability to verify its authenticity

"We have shown for the first time that quantum computing in the cloud can be accessed in a scalable, practical way which will also give people complete security and privacy of data, plus the ability to verify its authenticity," said Professor David Lucas, the Hub's Principal Investigator.

In the new study, the researchers use an approach dubbed "blind quantum computing", which connects two totally separate quantum computing entities – potentially an individual user accessing a cloud server – in a completely secure way. Importantly, their new methods could be scaled up to large quantum computations.

"Using blind quantum computing, clients can access remote quantum computers to process confidential data with secret algorithms and even verify the results are correct, without revealing any useful information. Realising this concept is a big step forward in both quantum computing and keeping our information safe online'' said study lead Dr Peter Drmota.

The researchers created a system comprising a fibre network link between a quantum computing server and a simple device detecting photons, or particles of light, at an independent computer remotely accessing its cloud services. This allows so-called blind quantum computing over a network. Every computation incurs a correction which must be applied to all that follow and needs real-time information to comply with the algorithm. The researchers used a unique combination of quantum memory and photons to achieve this.

"Never in history have the issues surrounding privacy of data and code been more urgently debated than in the present era of cloud computing and artificial intelligence," said Professor David Lucas. "As quantum computers become more capable, people will seek to use them with complete security and privacy over networks, and our new results mark a step change in capability in this respect."

The Hub was able to achieve this significant breakthrough thanks to collaborations with theoretical scientists from the UK National Quantum Computing Centre, the Paris- Sorbonne University, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Maryland, who were key in developing efficient protocols and addressing challenges such as the presence of noise in the quantum operations.

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