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Photon physics used to foil hackers A University of Toronto scientist says he is using photon physics to prevent hackers from obtaining sensitive government and business data. 'Quantum cryptography is trying to make all transmissions secure, so this could be very useful for online banking, for example,' said Professor Hoi-Kwong Lo, an expert in physics and electrical and computer engineering at UT`s Center for Quantum Information and Quantum Control. The researcher describes the first experimental proof of a quantum decoy technique to encrypt data over fiber optic cable. In quantum cryptography, laser light particles -- photons -- carry complex encryption keys through fiber optic cables. The technique varies the intensity of the photons and introduces photonic 'decoys' After the signals are sent, a second broadcast tells the receiving computer which photons carried the signal and which were decoys. The cryptography is based on Heisenberg`s Uncertainty Principle, which says merely observing a quantum object alters it. Therefore, if a hacker tries to 'eavesdrop' on the data stream to determine the encryption key, the mere act of eavesdropping changes the decoys -- signaling the receiving computer tampering has been attempted. The study appears in the Feb. 24 issue of Physical Review Letters. By UPI Feb 23, 2006, 19:00 GMT FONTE: Copyright 2006 by United Press International Voltar |
