What is Quantum Computer Security?

TL;DR

The article addresses security challenges in quantum computing, emphasizing vulnerabilities across hardware and software alongside the traditional focus on post-quantum cryptography. It surveys hardware-level issues such as crosstalk and side-channel leakage, and software-layer threats like compromised compilers and QTrojan, while outlining defense-in-depth strategies. Concrete defenses are detailed, including TEEs, QPUFs, device fingerprinting, circuit watermarking, circuit obfuscation, quantum antivirus, and circuit splitting, along with a taxonomy of threat classes and guiding bibliographies. The work argues for ongoing, integrated security research as quantum systems become more capable and accessible, to ensure trustworthy and resilient quantum computing for sensitive workloads.

Abstract

Quantum computing is rapidly emerging as one of the most transformative technologies of our time. With the potential to tackle problems that remain intractable for even the most powerful classical supercomputers, quantum hardware has advanced at an extraordinary pace. Today, major platforms such as IBM Quantum, Amazon Braket, and Microsoft Azure provide cloud-based access to quantum processors, making them more widely available than ever before. While a promising technology, quantum computing is not magically immune to security threats. Much research has been done on post-quantum cryptography, which addresses how to protect classical computers from attackers using quantum computers. This article meanwhile introduces the dual idea of quantum computer security: how to protect quantum computers from security attacks.

Figures (1)

• Figure 1: Diagram of a typical cloud-based superconducting quantum computer components and workflow. The attack surface with major potential attack points is superimposed on the diagram.