Multi-Layered Security System: Integrating Quantum Key Distribution with Classical Cryptography to Enhance Steganographic Security

Abstract: In this paper, we present a novel cryptographic system that integrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) with classical encryption techniques to secure steganographic images. Our approach leverages the E91 QKD protocol to generate a shared secret key between communicating parties, ensuring the highest level of security against eavesdropping through the principles of quantum mechanics. This key is then hashed using the Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA) to provide a fixedlength, high-entropy key, which is subsequently utilized in symmetric encryption. We explore the use of AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) algorithms for encrypting steganographic images, which hide sensitive information within digital images to provide an additional layer of security through obscurity. The combination of QKD, hashing, and symmetric encryption offers a robust security framework that mitigates various attack vectors, enhancing the confidentiality and integrity of the transmitted data. Our experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed system, highlighting its performance in terms of key generation rates, encryption/decryption speeds, and the computational overhead introduced by the hashing and steganographic processes. By integrating quantum and classical cryptographic methods with steganography, this work provides a comprehensive security solution that is highly resistant to both quantum and classical attacks, making it suitable for applications requiring stringent security measures. This paper contributes to the ongoing research in cryptographic systems, offering insights into the practical implementation and potential benefits of hybrid quantumclassical security protocols.