Every time someone shops online, encrypts a message, or logs into a system, a random number generator is working in the background. It generates the secret keys used to protect data. But many of these encryption generators ultimately follow an algorithm – that is, a set of computational rules. And anything that can be calculated can, in theory, also be predicted or cracked.
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS) in Dresden have developed a solution to this problem. It’s called Q-Dice and uses the laws of quantum physics to generate random numbers that aren’t based on computable algorithms and are therefore considered particularly secure.
For Data Centers and the Cloud
Q-Dice can be used in various ways. The researchers have developed the system both as a device for data centers and for applications that access it via the Internet. This allows the technology to be integrated into various digital systems.
Fraunhofer IPMS developed all key components in-house – from the generation of quantum signals to the processing of random numbers. This enabled the researchers to precisely control every step and verify the quality of the generated data.
The next step is to investigate how the technology can be used in practice. Potential applications include data encryption, secure communication systems, and digital access systems that require a particularly high level of protection against attacks.
