Hack Me If You Can
Optics & Photonics Focus
Volume 12 Story 4 - 8/2/2011

Quantum key distribution hack

Unsuccessful hack: (a) Alice sends the key to Bob; Eve interferes with the communication (here represented by a change in color). Alice and Bob detect the attack. Successful hack: (b) Eve blinds Bob with bright pulses; (c) Alice and Bob think that the communication channel is safe.
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Quantum key distribution hack. <i>Unsuccessful hack</i>: (a) Alice sends the key to Bob; Eve interferes with the communication (here represented by a change in color). Alice and Bob detect the attack. <i>Successful hack</i>: (b) Eve blinds Bob with bright pulses; (c) Alice and Bob think that the communication channel is safe.