Hao Qin: Side channel attack on a practical continuous-variable quantum key distribution system by inserting an external light
Hao Qin, Telecom ParisTech
We report a quantum hacking strategy on a Continuous-Variable (CV) Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) system by inserting an external light. In the implementations of CV QKD systems, transmitting openly local oscillator pulses is a potential vulnerability for an eavesdropper to launch side channel attacks. In this work, other than targeting on local oscillator, we concern two imperfections in a balanced homodyne detector used in CV QKD system: the imbalance in the beam splitter and the finite linear detection limit.