A Quantum-Based Signcryption for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Networks

Abstract

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are ubiquitous in industrial control processes, such as power grids, water supply systems, traffic control, oil and natural gas mining, space stations and nuclear plants. However, their security faces the threat of being compromised due to the increasing use of open-access networks. Furthermore, one of the research gaps involves the emergence of quantum computing, which has exposed a new type of risk to SCADA systems. Failure to secure SCADA systems can lead to catastrophic consequences. For example, a malicious attack can take control of the power supply to a city, shut down the water supply system, or cause malfunction of a nuclear reactor. The primary purpose of this paper is to identify the new type of attack based on quantum computing and design a novel security scheme to defend against traditional attacks as well as the quantum attack. The methodology of the proposed signcryption is built on the foundation of the classical Bennett and Brassard 1984 (BB84) cryptographic scheme and does not involve computationally expensive third-party validation. The proposed signcryption scheme provides both encryption and intrusion detection. In particular, it detects the man-in-the-middle attack that can lead to other types of attacks. We have simulated the proposed algorithm using the Quantum Information Toolkit in Python. Furthermore, we have validated and analyzed the proposed design through security verification tools, namely, Scyther and PRISM.

Robust Security With Strong Authentication in Mobile Cloud Computing Based on Trefoil Congruity Framework

“…In the comparison results, Reputation and its update accuracy, Effective recommendation rate (ERR), malicious user detection rate (MDR), time elapsed for the key generation and throughput for the proposed method is compared with the various existing methods such as CCRM (Lin et al, 2017), harmony (Shen & Liu, 2014), RP-CRM (Lin et al, 2014), ARTSense (Wang et al, 2013), QK-GRID (Arul et al, 2019), SKMA (Ghosh, 2019), EPPDR (Treacy & McCaffery, 2016), and TEES (Sowjanya et al, 2019). The comparative results are shown in the following figures.…”

Quantum Communication Networks for Energy Applications: Review and Perspective

“…Recognizing that the maturation of quantum computers in particular poses a significant risk for successful SCADA attacks, Sampalli and co-workers have developed and modelled a protocol based upon BB84 as a defense against quantum computer-based cyberattacks. [284] Moreover, sensor networks have been proposed to ensure efficient and safe operations within nuclear power plants, including wireless sensors, [285] optical fiber sensors, [286] and quantum sensors. [7a,287] As quantum sensors in particular become more widespread within nuclear power plants, quantum networking between sensors will become increasingly useful.…”

“…Recognizing that the maturation of quantum computers in particular poses a significant risk for successful SCADA attacks, Sampalli and co‐workers have developed and modelled a protocol based upon BB84 as a defense against quantum computer‐based cyberattacks. [ 284 ]…”

A System-on-a-Chip Implementation of a Post-Quantum Cryptography Scheme for Smart Meter Data Communications

“…This is because key generation and distribution in a cryptographic scheme may result in a security breach when SM data is transmitted through data networks [ 8 , 9 ]. To deal with this scenario, research efforts have been focused on privacy of information, security issues and countermeasures, see [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ] and reference therein. In this sense, the research effort to secure public-key encryption schemes against classical computing attacks is worth mentioning.…”