QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption
The emergence of quantum computing poses a significant security threat to the current classical cryptography system since it has the potential to outperform the current classical computer in some specific tasks due to its unique principle of operation. This necessitates finding a method that is resi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098625002228 |
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| author | Md. Raisul Islam Rifat Md. Mizanur Rahman Md. Abdul Kader Nayon Md Shawmoon Azad M.R.C. Mahdy |
| author_facet | Md. Raisul Islam Rifat Md. Mizanur Rahman Md. Abdul Kader Nayon Md Shawmoon Azad M.R.C. Mahdy |
| author_sort | Md. Raisul Islam Rifat |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The emergence of quantum computing poses a significant security threat to the current classical cryptography system since it has the potential to outperform the current classical computer in some specific tasks due to its unique principle of operation. This necessitates finding a method that is resistant to quantum computers to securely transfer information. This research addresses these challenges by proposing a novel method combining quantum key distribution (QKD), specifically the E91 protocol, with the classical encryption-authentication protocol ChaCha20-Poly1305, and concealing information within another message through steganography to securely transfer audio messages. A shared secret key is created between the communicating parties using E91 QKD, which exploits the stellar protection of quantum entanglement against eavesdropping. The shared key is hashed through the SHA–3 hash function to generate a fixed-length, high-entropy symmetric key. The audio message is hidden inside another audio signal through steganography. The steganographic signal is encrypted using ChaCha20-Poly1305 AEAD in order to provide another layer of obfuscation as well as a means to verify integrity. Through rigorous experiments, we validated the robustness of the proposed methodology in both classical and quantum attacks. The processing of secret audio signals of varying duration (00:01:32 to 00:01:36) exhibits consistent encryption results. The encrypted stego audios show high randomness, with an average entropy of 15.9984, an average correlation of 1.4627×10−5, an average UACI of 49.9977%, and an average NSCR of 99.9985%. We demonstrated the safety of the shared key using the CHSH inequality test, where in the presence of an eavesdropper, the CHSH value is much less than 22. In addition, the integrity of the secret audio is also validated through the verification of the authenticator tag generated during the encryption process. Our research offers a novel framework for secure audio transmission, combining classical encryption and authentication methods with QKD to enhance confidentiality, integrity, and resilience against eavesdropping and tampering, ensuring robust end-to-end security. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-157f76cc1bf946f19986816c3cf70191 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2215-0986 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-157f76cc1bf946f19986816c3cf701912025-08-23T04:48:31ZengElsevierEngineering Science and Technology, an International Journal2215-09862025-10-017010216710.1016/j.jestch.2025.102167QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryptionMd. Raisul Islam Rifat0Md. Mizanur Rahman1Md. Abdul Kader Nayon2Md Shawmoon Azad3M.R.C. Mahdy4Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Raozan, Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh; Mahdy Research Academy, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, Station Rd, Rajshahi, 6204, Bangladesh; Mahdy Research Academy, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Raozan, Chattogram, 4349, Bangladesh; Mahdy Research Academy, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh; Mahdy Research Academy, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh; NSU Center of Quantum Computing, North South University, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh; Corresponding author at: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, North South University, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh.The emergence of quantum computing poses a significant security threat to the current classical cryptography system since it has the potential to outperform the current classical computer in some specific tasks due to its unique principle of operation. This necessitates finding a method that is resistant to quantum computers to securely transfer information. This research addresses these challenges by proposing a novel method combining quantum key distribution (QKD), specifically the E91 protocol, with the classical encryption-authentication protocol ChaCha20-Poly1305, and concealing information within another message through steganography to securely transfer audio messages. A shared secret key is created between the communicating parties using E91 QKD, which exploits the stellar protection of quantum entanglement against eavesdropping. The shared key is hashed through the SHA–3 hash function to generate a fixed-length, high-entropy symmetric key. The audio message is hidden inside another audio signal through steganography. The steganographic signal is encrypted using ChaCha20-Poly1305 AEAD in order to provide another layer of obfuscation as well as a means to verify integrity. Through rigorous experiments, we validated the robustness of the proposed methodology in both classical and quantum attacks. The processing of secret audio signals of varying duration (00:01:32 to 00:01:36) exhibits consistent encryption results. The encrypted stego audios show high randomness, with an average entropy of 15.9984, an average correlation of 1.4627×10−5, an average UACI of 49.9977%, and an average NSCR of 99.9985%. We demonstrated the safety of the shared key using the CHSH inequality test, where in the presence of an eavesdropper, the CHSH value is much less than 22. In addition, the integrity of the secret audio is also validated through the verification of the authenticator tag generated during the encryption process. Our research offers a novel framework for secure audio transmission, combining classical encryption and authentication methods with QKD to enhance confidentiality, integrity, and resilience against eavesdropping and tampering, ensuring robust end-to-end security.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098625002228Quantum Key Distribution (QKD)E91 protocolEntanglementCHSH inequalitySteganographyChaCha20-Poly1305 |
| spellingShingle | Md. Raisul Islam Rifat Md. Mizanur Rahman Md. Abdul Kader Nayon Md Shawmoon Azad M.R.C. Mahdy QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) E91 protocol Entanglement CHSH inequality Steganography ChaCha20-Poly1305 |
| title | QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption |
| title_full | QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption |
| title_fullStr | QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption |
| title_full_unstemmed | QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption |
| title_short | QSAC: Quantum-assisted Secure Audio Communication using quantum entanglement, audio steganography, and classical encryption |
| title_sort | qsac quantum assisted secure audio communication using quantum entanglement audio steganography and classical encryption |
| topic | Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) E91 protocol Entanglement CHSH inequality Steganography ChaCha20-Poly1305 |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215098625002228 |
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