Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ghosh, Swaroop, Upadhyay, Suryansh, Saki, Abdullah Ash
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.02505
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866908312197398528
author Ghosh, Swaroop
Upadhyay, Suryansh
Saki, Abdullah Ash
author_facet Ghosh, Swaroop
Upadhyay, Suryansh
Saki, Abdullah Ash
contents Quantum computing is an emerging computing paradigm that can potentially transform several application areas by solving some of the intractable problems from classical domain. Similar to classical computing systems, quantum computing stack including software and hardware rely extensively on third parties many of them could be untrusted or less-trusted or unreliable. Quantum computing stack may contain sensitive Intellectual Properties (IP) that requires protection. From hardware perspective, quantum computers suffer from crosstalk that couples two programs in a multi-tenant setting to facilitate traditionally known fault injection attacks. Furthermore, third party calibration services can report incorrect error rates of qubits or mis-calibrate the qubits to degrade the computation performance for denial-of-service attacks. Quantum computers are expensive and access queue is typically long for trusted providers. Therefore, users may be enticed to explore untrusted but cheaper and readily available quantum hardware which can enable stealth of IP and tampering of quantum programs and/or computation outcomes. Recent studies have indicated the evolution of efficient but untrusted compilation services which presents risks to the IPs present in the quantum circuits. The untrusted compiler can also inject Trojans and perform tampering. Although quantum computing can involve sensitive IP and private information and can solve problems with strategic impact, its security and privacy has received inadequate attention. This paper provides comprehensive overview of the basics of quantum computing, key vulnerabilities embedded in the quantum systems and the recent attack vectors and corresponding defenses. Future research directions are also provided to build a stronger community of quantum security investigators.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2305_02505
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A Primer on Security of Quantum Computing Hardware
Ghosh, Swaroop
Upadhyay, Suryansh
Saki, Abdullah Ash
Quantum Physics
Quantum computing is an emerging computing paradigm that can potentially transform several application areas by solving some of the intractable problems from classical domain. Similar to classical computing systems, quantum computing stack including software and hardware rely extensively on third parties many of them could be untrusted or less-trusted or unreliable. Quantum computing stack may contain sensitive Intellectual Properties (IP) that requires protection. From hardware perspective, quantum computers suffer from crosstalk that couples two programs in a multi-tenant setting to facilitate traditionally known fault injection attacks. Furthermore, third party calibration services can report incorrect error rates of qubits or mis-calibrate the qubits to degrade the computation performance for denial-of-service attacks. Quantum computers are expensive and access queue is typically long for trusted providers. Therefore, users may be enticed to explore untrusted but cheaper and readily available quantum hardware which can enable stealth of IP and tampering of quantum programs and/or computation outcomes. Recent studies have indicated the evolution of efficient but untrusted compilation services which presents risks to the IPs present in the quantum circuits. The untrusted compiler can also inject Trojans and perform tampering. Although quantum computing can involve sensitive IP and private information and can solve problems with strategic impact, its security and privacy has received inadequate attention. This paper provides comprehensive overview of the basics of quantum computing, key vulnerabilities embedded in the quantum systems and the recent attack vectors and corresponding defenses. Future research directions are also provided to build a stronger community of quantum security investigators.
title A Primer on Security of Quantum Computing Hardware
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.02505