Delay and Reflection Attacks in Authenticated Semi-Quantum Direct Communications

Quantum communication protocols are establishing novel methodologies to provide secure environments for transmitting and exchanging messages and keys. In this paper, improvements to the Authenticated Semi-Quantum Direct Communication (ASQDC) protocol are suggested in order to mitigate attacks on the quantum channel, i.e., the delay attack, in which indices of the secret message are compromised, and reflection attack, in which the channel is jammed. The proposed improvements also reinforce the resistance to other attacks, with respect to the original ASQDC protocol.