# The Quantum Trick that Scammers Fear the Most | Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri | TEDxIITDelhi

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtiaIj25wlY
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/CtiaIj25wlY
Generated: 2025-12-04T22:04:42.24+00:00

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## Quick Overview

Professor Bhaskar Kanseri explains that quantum entanglement provides an inherently secure method for tasks like position verification and secure communication, preventing eavesdropping because any attempt to measure the quantum state instantly disturbs it, thus quantum networks will complement, not replace, the classical internet by enabling ultra-secure applications.

**Key Points:**
- Online scams, including credit card and banking frauds, cost individuals and organizations heavily, costing over $300,000 every second globally.
- Current classical cryptography relies on shared secret keys whose location is vulnerable, as classical information can be perfectly copied, allowing scammers to impersonate legitimate parties.
- Quantum Position Verification (QPV) uses entanglement to guarantee the prover's location is verified without revealing the distance, preventing eavesdropping due to the No-Cloning Theorem.
- Quantum Secure Communication uses Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) via entangled photons, where any attempt by a scammer to measure the quantum state alerts both parties.
- The speaker's research group at IIT Delhi has demonstrated practical quantum networks, including a 100km intercity QKD link using underground fiber and entanglement-based free-space QKD over 1km on campus.
- Quantum networks will not replace the classical internet but will integrate with it, offering enhanced security and enabling tasks impossible classically, such as ultra-secure communication and location authentication.

![Screenshot at 00:16: The speaker stands on stage with the title slide displayed, "The Quantum Solution to Online Scams," immediately setting the context for the talk on using quantum technology to combat digital fraud.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-00-16.png)

**Context:** Professor Bhaskar Kanseri, an IHFC Chair Professor in the Department of Physics at IIT Delhi, delivers a TEDx talk titled 'The Quantum Solution to Online Scams' at TEDxIITDelhi, focusing on how principles of quantum mechanics, specifically entanglement, can provide provably secure solutions against modern digital threats like online fraud and data theft.

## Detailed Analysis

Professor Bhaskar Kanseri argues that the increasing prevalence of online scams, costing over $300,000 per second globally, necessitates a fundamentally new approach to security. Current classical methods for position verification and secure communication are vulnerable because classical information can be copied without detection. He proposes a quantum solution rooted in entanglement. For Quantum Position Verification (QPV), he illustrates a scheme where multiple verifiers use entanglement to confirm the prover's position with certainty, relying on the fact that quantum signals cannot travel faster than light, which prevents an eavesdropper from accurately mimicking a response time. He further explains Quantum Secure Communication using Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which leverages the principle that measuring a quantum state destroys it—the No-Cloning Theorem—thereby immediately alerting the communicating parties (Verifier and Prover) if a scammer intercepts the key. Kanseri highlights that his research group at IIT Delhi has already made practical demonstrations, including India's first 100km intercity QKD link via underground fiber and entanglement-based free-space QKD over 1km on campus. He concludes that future quantum networks will not replace the classical internet but will complement it, offering unparalleled security for critical sectors like finance, defense, and healthcare by enabling ultra-secure communication and location authentication.

### The Problem

- Online Scams: Online frauds (credit card, banking) cost $300,000 every second globally
- Scammers use replicas of websites to steal personal data and login details
- Classical position cryptography fails because information can be copied.

### Quantum Position Verification (QPV)

- QPV uses a position-based cryptography scheme relying on the speed of light
- An attacker cannot perfectly copy the quantum response due to the No-Cloning Theorem
- This guarantees secure verification of the prover's location.

### Quantum Secure Communication (QKD)

- QKD uses entangled particles (photons) to share secret keys securely
- Any attempt by a scammer to measure the quantum state disturbs it, alerting both parties
- This is considered the 'Holy Grail' of secure communication.

### Practical Demonstrations at IIT Delhi

- The research group demonstrated the first Indian intercity QKD over 100km using underground fiber
- They also demonstrated entanglement-based free-space QKD over 1km on the IITD campus (09:19).

### The Future

- Quantum Networks: Future quantum networks will connect verifiers and provers using entanglement distribution and classical communication (09:36)
- These networks will enable ultra-secure communication and highly secure position authentication for critical sectors like banking, finance, defense, and healthcare.

![Screenshot at 00:02: TEDxIITDelhi event branding and the theme 'BLUEPRINTS FOR THE FUTURE'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-00-02.png)
![Screenshot at 00:17: Professor Bhaskar Kanseri introduced on stage with his title as IHFC Chair Professor, Department of Physics, IIT Delhi.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-00-17.png)
![Screenshot at 00:47: The speaker illustrates the vulnerability of current systems by describing a bank scam scenario where a replica website is used to steal credentials.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-00-47.png)
![Screenshot at 02:19: A slide titled 'Secure Position Verification' displays a geometric diagram showing three intersecting circles representing verifiers \(V\) and a prover \(P\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-02-19.png)
![Screenshot at 07:35: A slide titled 'Quantum Networks and Quantum Internet' illustrates a network diagram with nodes \(N1-N7\) connected by solid lines \(entanglement distribution\) and dashed lines \(classical communication\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/CtiaIj25wlY/00-07-35.png)