First quantum cryptographic data network demoed

With so much sensitive data traveling among governmental agencies, financial institutions, and organized crime rackets, the need for ultra-secure communication has never been higher, and now it seems like the holy grail of unbreakable encryption is almost upon us. Researchers from Northwestern University and Massachusetts-based BBN Technologies recently joined forces to demonstrate what's being hailed as the world's first fully-functional quantum cryptographic data network, as the system leverages the quantum entanglement properties of photons for both data transfer as well as key distribution. The magic of quantum cryptography lies in the fact that not only can two parties exchange the so-called keys without the risk of an eavesdropper ever being able to fully ascertain their values, but the simple act of eavesdropping on an encrypted data transfer can easily be detected on both ends of the line. This current breakthrough combined Northwestern's data encryption method (known as AlphaEta) with BBN's key encryption scheme to enable a completely secure fiber optic link between BBN's headquarters and Harvard University, a distance of nine kilometers. As you might imagine, the entire project was funded by a $5.4 million grant from DARPA, an agency which has a vested interest in transmitting data that not even a theoretical quantum computer could crack. It will be a while before this technology filters down to the consumer, but when it does, you can bet that BitTorrenting pirates will be beside themselves with joy.

[Via Slashdot]

[FrankTheCrank @ Aug 30th 2006 2:55PM]

Ooooh...lasers...pretty...

[PodMonkeys @ Aug 30th 2006 3:11PM]

All I have to say is... thats my company! Wooooo! :D

Unfortunately I don't work with that project, so I don't know exactly how cool it is, but it is a pretty nifty project.

[alex @ Aug 30th 2006 3:20PM]

i hate to be a nitpicker, but the "hold grail"? c'mon guys...
btw its not just engadget today. this wednesday seems to be the "bad grammar and spelling day" among all blogs and rumor sites.

[Nicholas Schaulsohn @ Aug 30th 2006 3:33PM]

we all know that crap will get hacked withn 2 weeks of being released.

[Kevin Mogee @ Aug 30th 2006 3:34PM]

I also noticed the "hold grail" comment. Great post otherwise.

[Kevin Mogee @ Aug 30th 2006 3:38PM]

"we all know that crap will get hacked withn 2 weeks of being released."

Not really...Scientific American had a very detailed story on this subject in the Jan 2005 issue. It was written is such a way that even non-geeks could understand the concept, and from the looks of it, it CAN'T be hacked.

Just thought you'd like to know.

[Josh S. @ Aug 30th 2006 3:41PM]

Cool, I just read about this idea. "The Code Book"; not written very well but it does give you some info on cryptography. The last chapters are devoted to quatum cryptography.

[Josh S. @ Aug 30th 2006 3:41PM]

Also, just to answer another comment here, it cannot be hacked. If it were, that would mean everything we know about quantum physics (a lot) is incorrect. It is more likely that this simply cannot be borken into.

[gr_scott_jo @ Aug 30th 2006 4:00PM]

My question is, if a third party wouldn't be able to be certain of the values transmitted because of quantum fluctuations, how is the intended receiving party supposed to know? Couldn't the third party just get their hands on the decoding tools of the intended receiver?

[jjj @ Aug 30th 2006 4:04PM]

Actually, we've been doing this for quite some time.
http://www.jhuapl.edu/areas/sciencetech/Physics/QuantumInfoProcessing.asp

[All Your Lost Socks @ Aug 30th 2006 4:40PM]

gr_scott_jo: That's what the keys are for :) They key values are exchanged and then the data is exchanged which they keys can decode.

[Nicholas Schaulsohn @ Aug 30th 2006 4:53PM]

""we all know that crap will get hacked withn 2 weeks of being released."

Not really...Scientific American had a very detailed story on this subject in the Jan 2005 issue. It was written is such a way that even non-geeks could understand the concept, and from the looks of it, it CAN'T be hacked.

Just thought you'd like to know."

You thought wrong.

p1r4t3 for life.

[Richard @ Aug 30th 2006 5:57PM]

It is impossible to "hack" into a quantum cryptographic communication like this currently, and most of quantum physics if not all says it is impossible. However, it is apparently possible to use quantum telecloning to conceal that one is indeed snooping in on such a link, fruitless as it may be.

[John Stracke @ Aug 31st 2006 8:47AM]

The one hitch with quantum encryption is that you need a physical connection (probably a fiber optic line) from sender to receiver; you can't do packet routing. Anybody who wanted to use this on a large scale would need point-to-point fiber lines between each pair of endpoints. (I suppose you could try to work out some sort of circuit-switched system, where photons get directed over appropriate fibers at each switch. But then you have to trust the switches not to insert a man-in-the-middle attack.)

[John Evelyn (Get Safe Online) @ Nov 6th 2006 3:18AM]

Readers may be interested in a recent post on the Get Safe Online blog about quantum cryptography: http://www.getsafeonlineblog.org/?p=40.

Get Safe Online (www.getsafeonline.org) is a UK government initiative designed to help citizens and small businesses protect themselves on the internet.