Comparative study between two protocols based on the unique photon, within and without Spy

Abstract

Information security is a critical aspect in various industries such as telecommunications, businesses, and banking, where protecting sensitive information against different types of cyber threats is crucial. To achieve this, cryptographic techniques have been developed that are traditionally based on classical and modern cryptography. However, with the advent of quantum computing, the reliability of these traditional methods is increasingly at risk, rendering some of them ineffective. This has led to the development of a new cryptographic approach known as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). QKD leverages quantum mechanical principles such as entanglement, uncertainty theory and non-cloning to securely share encryption keys between two distant parties. These keys can then be used for symmetric encryption, ensuring enhanced data security. This thesis focuses on the study and simulation of two major QKD protocols, BB84 and B92, using the OptiSystem simulation platform. The aim is to evaluate their performance and perform a comparative analysis.