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Main Authors: Robertson, Ailsa, Schaffner, Christian, Verschoor, Sebastian R.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.00069
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author Robertson, Ailsa
Schaffner, Christian
Verschoor, Sebastian R.
author_facet Robertson, Ailsa
Schaffner, Christian
Verschoor, Sebastian R.
contents Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) allows secure communication without relying on computational assumptions, but can currently only be deployed over relatively short distances due to hardware constraints. To extend QKD over long distances, networks of trusted repeater nodes can be used, wherein QKD is executed between neighbouring nodes and messages between non-neighbouring nodes are forwarded using a relay protocol. Although these networks are being deployed worldwide, no protocol exists which provides provable guarantees of integrity against manipulation from both external adversaries and corrupted intermediates. In this work, we present the first protocol that provably provides both confidentiality and integrity. Our protocol combines an existing cryptographic technique, Algebraic Manipulation Detection (AMD) codes, with multi-path relaying over trusted repeater networks. This protocol achieves Information Theoretic Security (ITS) against the detection of manipulation, which we prove formally through a sequence of games.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_00069
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Integrity from Algebraic Manipulation Detection in Trusted-Repeater QKD Networks
Robertson, Ailsa
Schaffner, Christian
Verschoor, Sebastian R.
Quantum Physics
Cryptography and Security
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) allows secure communication without relying on computational assumptions, but can currently only be deployed over relatively short distances due to hardware constraints. To extend QKD over long distances, networks of trusted repeater nodes can be used, wherein QKD is executed between neighbouring nodes and messages between non-neighbouring nodes are forwarded using a relay protocol. Although these networks are being deployed worldwide, no protocol exists which provides provable guarantees of integrity against manipulation from both external adversaries and corrupted intermediates. In this work, we present the first protocol that provably provides both confidentiality and integrity. Our protocol combines an existing cryptographic technique, Algebraic Manipulation Detection (AMD) codes, with multi-path relaying over trusted repeater networks. This protocol achieves Information Theoretic Security (ITS) against the detection of manipulation, which we prove formally through a sequence of games.
title Integrity from Algebraic Manipulation Detection in Trusted-Repeater QKD Networks
topic Quantum Physics
Cryptography and Security
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.00069