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Is quantum key distribution suitable for steganography?

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Abstract

Recently a quantum steganographic communication protocol based on quantum key distribution (QKD) was proposed, where it is believed that QKD is a kind of suitable cover of a steganographic communication because QKD itself is not deterministic communication. Here we find that, as a special cryptographic application, the procedure of QKD can be used for deterministic secure communication, and consequently it is not suitable for steganography. Due to similar reasons, other quantum cryptographic schemes, including quantum secret sharing and quantum secure direct communication, are not suitable for steganography either.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Networking and Switching Technology, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Beijing, 100876, China

    Fei Gao, Bin Liu, Wei-Wei Zhang & Qiao-Yan Wen

  2. State Key Laboratory of Integrated Service Networks, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710071, China

    Fei Gao

  3. Science and Technology on Communication Security Laboratory, P.O. Box 810, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Hui Chen

Authors
  1. Fei Gao
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  2. Bin Liu
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  3. Wei-Wei Zhang
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  4. Qiao-Yan Wen
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  5. Hui Chen
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Correspondence to Bin Liu.

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Gao, F., Liu, B., Zhang, WW. et al. Is quantum key distribution suitable for steganography?. Quantum Inf Process 12, 625–630 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11128-012-0408-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11128-012-0408-5

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