Quantum Computing Enhances Secure Multiparty Computation, Study Finds

Secure Multiparty Computation (SMC) is a technology that allows multiple parties to compute a function while preserving data confidentiality. However, classical SMC faces security and efficiency challenges. To address these, researchers Zeinab Rahmani, Armando Humberto Moreira Nolasco Pinto, and Luis Manuel Dias Coelho Soares Barbosa have proposed a quantum-based protocol that uses a specific state of quantum entanglement to compute binary Boolean functions. This protocol offers improved security against quantum attacks and reduces computational and communication overheads. The protocol was successfully tested on the IBM Qiskit, demonstrating its practicality for secure multiparty computation.

What is Secure Multiparty Computation (SMC) and its Challenges?

Secure Multiparty Computation (SMC) is a technology that allows multiple parties to collaborate and compute a function, while preserving the confidentiality of their private data. Each participant has their own set of confidential data and can calculate a function that is open to the public, without revealing any details about their data to the other participants. This technology has practical applications in various real-life scenarios such as vehicular networks, genomics data mining, and secure voting.

However, classical SMC implementations face significant security and efficiency challenges. These implementations rely on public-key cryptography, which often leads to significant computational and communication overheads. Furthermore, classical SMC protocols that rely on prime numbers for their security are vulnerable to quantum attacks, which can factor large prime numbers efficiently.

How Can Quantum Computing Improve SMC?

To overcome these challenges, the authors, Zeinab Rahmani, Armando Humberto Moreira Nolasco Pinto, and Luis Manuel Dias Coelho Soares Barbosa, propose a quantum-based two-party protocol to compute binary Boolean functions with the help of a third party. This protocol uses the entangled Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) state, a specific state of quantum entanglement where three particles are entangled.

The authors exploit a technique in which a random Z-phase rotation on the GHZ state is performed to achieve higher security. The Z-phase rotation is a quantum operation that changes the phase of a quantum state, which can be used to encode information. This technique increases the security of the protocol by making it more difficult for an attacker to gain information about the private data.

What are the Advantages of the Proposed Quantum-based SMC Protocol?

The security and complexity analyses conducted by the authors demonstrate the feasibility and improved security of their scheme compared to other SMC Boolean function computation methods. The quantum-based protocol provides a higher level of security against quantum attacks, which are a significant threat to classical SMC protocols.

Additionally, the quantum-based protocol is more efficient than classical SMC protocols. The use of quantum entanglement and Z-phase rotation reduces the computational and communication overheads associated with public-key cryptography.

How was the Quantum-based SMC Protocol Tested?

The authors implemented the proposed protocol on the IBM Qiskit, a platform for quantum computing. The outcomes were consistent and validated the correctness of the protocol. This demonstrates that the protocol can be implemented on existing quantum computing platforms, making it a practical solution for secure multiparty computation.

Who are the Authors and their Affiliations?

The authors of the study are Zeinab Rahmani, Armando Humberto Moreira Nolasco Pinto, and Luis Manuel Dias Coelho Soares Barbosa. They are affiliated with the Department of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics at the University of Aveiro, the Instituto de Telecomunicações in Aveiro, Portugal, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga, Portugal, the Department of Computer Science at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal, and the Institute of Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science in Porto, Portugal.

What is the Future of Quantum-based SMC?

The study presents a promising direction for the future of secure multiparty computation. The proposed quantum-based protocol offers improved security and efficiency over classical SMC protocols. As quantum computing technology continues to advance, it is likely that quantum-based SMC will become increasingly important in a variety of applications, from secure voting to genomics data mining. The successful implementation of the protocol on the IBM Qiskit also suggests that quantum-based SMC can be practically implemented on existing quantum computing platforms.