Quantum Solutions for Mobile Phones
How is quantum technology transforming mobile phone security? How can the whole mobile ecosystem thrive with quantum cybersecurity as a key point of differentiation?
In a mobile world, where critical applications and data are delivered to handheld devices via wireless and cellular networks, quantum-enhanced security is gaining traction. Simple and affordable to embed, easy to leverage and ultra-secure: QRNG creates opportunities and changes the game for phone manufacturers, telecom operators, app developers and end-users.
Today’s digital activities — from mobile banking and online purchases to messages over social media and work emails — have turned mobile phones into a goldmine of financial, health, business, and personal information, raising the need for security to the edge.
Applications require the collection and transmission of a large amount of sensitive information including digital identification and use phone security algorithms to generate keys to encrypt client data securely.
Transmissions and data are protected by cryptographic algorithms using random numbers for encryption, digital signing, and hashing — the basic cryptographic implementations that protect everything digital.
Secure Digital Services
If the recent years have taught us anything, it’s that secure digital services are essential for our society to be functional. Mobile devices have become a major part of our daily lives: We buy, we sell, we pay our bills, we communicate with each other, etc. There’s no other place where we hold that much personal and confidential data. No wonder our phones represent a valued target for hackers.
We all expect and deserve security: It is a determining factor in the choice of device and services we use. Long-lasting security and trust are key components of a sustainable business.
With ID Quantique’s (IDQ) QRNG chip embedded, quantum-level security can be applied to any service and any app on the phone. IDQ’s QRNG chip has been designed and manufactured specifically for mobile handsets, IoT, and edge devices. With its low profile, compact size, and low power consumption, it is ideal for securing the collection and transfer of sensitive data at the edge. It offers the highest attainable security and robustness for the generation of random bits.
In May 2020, ID Quantique and SK Telecom announced to the world the first 5G smartphone equipped with a Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) chipset. By integrating a Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) into its new Samsung Galaxy A Quantum smartphone, Samsung has added quantum technology to smartphone security for SK Telecom to provide the highest level of trust for customer’s sensitive information.
This was the world’s first mass-market application of quantum technology, which laid the foundation for affordable high-security key generation into any mobile device. Following this success, Samsung launched the Galaxy Quantum 2 in 2021, the Galaxy Quantum 3 in 2022, and the Galaxy Quantum 4 in 2023 with an expanded use of QRNG to many applications and services in each successive version.
Use Case: Samsung Galaxy Quantum 4
The QRNG chip adds an additional layer of authentication to the Samsung Galaxy Quantum 4, boosting security by generating truly unpredictable and random numbers that are used for encryption. This provides smartphone users with a differentiated smartphone service that enables them to use applications and services more securely.
With all of our personal data contained in our smartphones — which are themselves connected to almost everything in our lives — it’s little wonder that security is set to be a major selling point for smartphones and apps. Embedded security hardware offers OEMs and Mobile Network Providers the opportunity to offer the highest level of assurance via a method that is also highly convenient for customers. With the QRNG chip installed in phones, telcos are not only able to differentiate their products and services, but can also enjoy additional revenues from customers who are prepared to pay for enhanced security for their personal data and privacy.
Benefits for Developers
Native integration of the QRNG chip into the Android Keystore (APIs) automatically enhances the security of a large number of services used on the smartphone, including mobile payments, banking, and identification services, as well as communication and even music streaming services.
All application developers can access the quantum security features for their services with the SDK, making enhanced security more accessible and easier to implement.
Several finance and banking applications are already leveraging QRNG through smartphones equipped with the technology. Notable examples include the partnerships between SK Telecom and DGB Daegu Bank (through the quantum-powered banking service IM Bank) and with Standard Chartered, which is using quantum security in its mobile banking app.
Messaging applications can also be enhanced: CryptoNext has developed a plugin for the Signal application that enables Signal to be quantum resistant. This plugin is an integration of the CryptoNext library with the Signal application. The generation of quantum-resistant cryptographic keys is done on top of Signal and only at the user’s phone level.
Learn more about Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) for mobile phones.
Read about the varied applications of quantum-enhanced security.
To request more information or a quotation for any ID Quantique products, contact IL Photonics.