Prevent the Second Colonial Incident... Major Powers Compete for Leadership in Quantum Cryptography [Tech Talk by Im Ju-hyung]

Quantum-Based Communication Security System 'Quantum Key Distribution'
Protects Against Latest Hacking Techniques and Quantum Computer Threats
Praised as the 'Ultimate Security System'... Limited by Short Communication Distance
US, UK, EU, and China Compete for Leadership

Hacking threats against key national institutions and facilities, including attempts to hack the Colonial Pipeline, are increasing. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As hacking attempts targeting sensitive national agency information and critical infrastructure increase, interest in cybersecurity is growing. The reason why quantum key distribution technology, regarded as the 'ultimate security system' that cannot be breached by conventional hacking techniques, is attracting attention from countries worldwide. Although the technology currently faces many limitations, major powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China have entered fierce competition for its commercialization.

On the 7th of last month (local time), the hacker criminal group 'DarkSide' succeeded in hacking the United States' largest oil pipeline, the 'Colonial Pipeline,' shocking the world. DarkSide hacked into the IT system controlling the pipeline and forcibly halted its operation. DarkSide demanded approximately 5 million dollars (about 5.5 billion KRW) in Bitcoin from Colonial, the pipeline operator, in exchange for releasing the system.

Subsequently, the FBI tracked the flow of Bitcoin, located DarkSide's electronic wallet, and successfully seized the funds, but concerns about hacking threats remain. This is because if hacker groups hack sensitive information of important national institutions or places directly related to citizens' lives such as hospitals and power plants, it can cause serious damage.

Amid this, the hacking prevention technology recently attracting attention from security industries worldwide is 'quantum key distribution.' Although quantum key distribution is a next-generation security technology currently under research, it is evaluated as the 'ultimate security system' because it provides almost perfect protection not only against existing hacking methods but also against next-generation computer hardware.

Quantum cryptography communication experimental equipment disclosed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) in 2019. / Photo by Yonhap News

To understand quantum key distribution, one must first know the security methods currently in use. Today, data protection commonly uses a technology called 'public key cryptography.' Public key cryptography enables communication security by matching an encryption 'public key' and a decryption 'private key.' Only the person possessing the private key can break the encryption and see the real data.

The problem is that recent rapid advances in hardware technology have increased the possibility of public key cryptography being rendered ineffective. Hacking software is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and 'quantum computers' being developed in countries like the United States and China possess computational power far exceeding conventional computers, posing a risk to break public key cryptography.

If public key cryptography is neutralized, all IT systems worldwide would be exposed to hacking threats instantly.

Quantum key distribution can effectively defend against threats from next-generation hardware and software such as quantum computers.

This technology encrypts data by exchanging cryptographic keys made from photons (particles of light) in quantum states that simultaneously hold values of 0 and 1. If a third party attempts to hack during transmission, the information value of the cryptographic key can be immediately altered to prevent reading the signal. Because of this characteristic, hacking is difficult even with the enormous computational power of quantum computers.

However, quantum key distribution also has limitations. The biggest current issue is the short communication distance; using optical fiber cables to transmit quantum states allows communication over about 100 km. This distance is too short for full-scale use in an era of global communication.

Satellite-based quantum key distribution system 'Quantum Cloud' developed by UK startup 'Alkit' / Photo by Alkit YouTube video capture

To overcome these limitations, major powers are researching methods of communicating between satellites carrying quantum keys and ground facilities.

The United States and the United Kingdom, leading the way, are cooperating to develop a satellite-based quantum encryption network. The two countries plan to build a low Earth orbit quantum satellite communication network developed by the British startup 'Arqit' starting in 2023.

The European Union also announced last month the 'EuroQCI,' a joint European quantum communication network development plan, with aerospace giant Airbus leading the research and development.

China has also tested quantum key distribution technology using satellite communication. In 2017, a Chinese research team demonstrated a method of sharing secure keys by sending photons from a satellite to two ground stations 1,200 km apart.

The South Korean government is also accelerating the construction of infrastructure related to quantum key distribution. The Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency (NIA) conducted a public contest in March as part of the 'Digital New Deal' project for the 'Quantum Cryptography Communication Infrastructure Construction Project.'

This project focuses on pilot applications of technologies necessary for quantum cryptographic communication, such as quantum key distribution, key management systems, and encryption transmission equipment, in public and private sectors, and discovering new application services through this.