DRDO achieves milestone in key Quantum Technology

Context:

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) achieved a milestone in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology.

What is Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)?

• QKD is a secure communication method that uses cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics.
• The technology enables two communicators to produce a random secret key known only to them and later it can be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.

What makes QKD unbreakable?

• The security of QKD stems from the ability to detect any intrusion on the QKD transmission.
• Because of the unique and fragile properties of photons, any third party who tries to read or copy the photons in any way will change the photons’ state.
• The change will be detected by the endpoints, alerting them that the key has been tampered with and must be discarded.
• A new key is then transmitted. Moreover, since the keys generated are truly random, they are protected from future hacking attempts.