The major risk that the quantum computers face: “an act of digital vandalism. You cannot detect that the results obtained are erroneous”

Informators could “vandalize” quantum computers, without users realizing that they were the victims of a cyber attack, according to a recently published study on arxiv platform,

Informatics security experts who sign the study warns that this vulnerability will become more acute as quantum devices are developing and are designed to host several users simultaneously, Newscientist announces.

The sharing of advanced calculation resources is a standard practice in computer science, whether we are talking about traditional computers or supercomputers, or about new quantum processors.

Classic computers can simultaneously run programs for many users due to well -imposed security mechanisms that isolate processes and prevent the interference of other users.

Digital vandalism without detectable traces

For quantum computers, however, the situation is different. Avinash Kumar of the University of Texas at Austin and his research team that signs the study have shown that it is possible for a malicious individual to interfere with the programs of other users running on the same quantum device.

“It is not about the theft of data, but rather an act of digital vandalism. The attacker does not extract confidential information, but corrupt the results of all the calculations performed on the quantum system. Which makes this particularly dangerous attack is that the victims cannot detect that the results obtained are erroneous. They seem completely normal, although they are fundamentally wrong. Serve, ”explains Kumar.

Testing vulnerability on real systems

The team has tested this vulnerability on five different quantum computers operated by IBM.

Although IBM currently does not allow simultaneous access to several users on the same quantum processor, researchers have developed software that simulates this scenario. The results are alarming, because the attack managed to change the results in about 40% of the cases.

This practical demonstration highlights a significant risk for the future of quantum calculation.

As the number of Qubiti (unit of information in quantum calculation, the equivalent of a bit in the classic calculation) increases and the systems become stronger, the sharing of resources will become an economic necessity, which will amplify this security risk. IBM representatives did not want to comment on the results of this study.

The solution proposed by researchers

The good news is that the researchers have already identified a possible solution.

Currently, quantum programs are performed multiple times on the same chip to achieve valid statistical results.

Kumar and his team propose the implementation of a system that would randomly distribute these multiple executions on different chips and in various combinations, which would significantly reduce the efficacy of the attack.

“Let's start thinking about security from now on.”

Aleks Kissinger, a researcher in the field of quantum calculation at Oxford University, who has not been involved in this study, confirms that interference is already a major challenge for overconducting quantum computers, which generates errors even in the absence of intentional attacks.

“At this moment, the priority of the industry is to achieve useful results on any type of quantum processor, and the problem of multiple users is not yet in the foreground,” explains Kissinger.

“However, as technology evolves, this type of vulnerability will have to be addressed. It is wise to start thinking about these security aspects from now on, because quantum architects will inevitably have to cope with the challenges associated with multiprogramming,” added the cyber security expert.