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A Repeated Mistake is a Choice: Considering Security Issues and Risks in Quantum Computing from Scratch

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14th International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Security for Information Systems and 12th International Conference on European Transnational Educational (CISIS 2021 and ICEUTE 2021) (CISIS - ICEUTE 2021)

Part of the book series: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing ((AISC,volume 1400))

Abstract

Quantum computing is set to revolutionize the world of software engineering. Currently, quantum paradigms and languages are being developed that are bringing the physical principles of quantum information closer to solving problems in multiple application domains. These paradigms and languages will continue to evolve and bring quantum computing closer to software engineering, and to an increasingly massive use of it. Unfortunately, as quantum software engineering advances in bringing these new capabilities closer to widespread industry exploitation, attackers will turn the spotlight on quantum software vulnerabilities, on what will be the new battlefront in the world of cybersecurity. In this paper, we approach this security from scratch, starting with an introduction to the current state of quantum programming languages. Then, some current hardware limitations are presented and how these affect quantum software engineering. Followed, we make an overview on the analysis of the quantum languages in terms of security together with some of the research made up to date. As a conclusion, we express the necessity to avoid the many times made mistake of not including security considerations from the first steps in the design of computing paradigms. An error that is repeated a second time is not an error; it is, indeed, a choice.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Basque Government through its partial funding support through the TRUSTIND ELKARTEK R&D project (ref. KK-2020/00054).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Deusto, 48007, Bilbao, Spain

    Danel Arias, Borja Sanz, José Gaviria de la Puerta, Iker Pastor & Pablo García Bringas

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  1. Danel Arias
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  2. Borja Sanz
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  3. José Gaviria de la Puerta
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  4. Iker Pastor
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  5. Pablo García Bringas
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Correspondence to Danel Arias .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Computing, Electronics and Communication Technologies, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain

    Juan José Gude Prego

  2. Department of Computing, Electronics and Communication Technologies, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain

    José Gaviria de la Puerta

  3. Department of Mechanics, Design and Industrial Management, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain

    Pablo García Bringas

  4. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of A Coruña, Ferrol, Spain

    Héctor Quintián

  5. BISITE Research Group, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

    Emilio Corchado

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Arias, D., Sanz, B., de la Puerta, J.G., Pastor, I., Bringas, P.G. (2022). A Repeated Mistake is a Choice: Considering Security Issues and Risks in Quantum Computing from Scratch. In: Gude Prego, J.J., de la Puerta, J.G., García Bringas, P., Quintián, H., Corchado, E. (eds) 14th International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Security for Information Systems and 12th International Conference on European Transnational Educational (CISIS 2021 and ICEUTE 2021). CISIS - ICEUTE 2021. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 1400. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87872-6_16

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