BGN Technologies unveils all-optical data encryption technology that spreads signals across optical spectrum

BGN Technologies, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s technology transfer company, plans to introduce a new all-optical data encryption technique at the Cybertech Global Tel Aviv conference that will be held January 28-30, 2020 in Tel Aviv, Israel. The approach spreads optical transmission power across multiple wavelengths to hide signals in optical noise and employs an optical phase mask to prevent decryption without the proper key.

The “stealthy” process involves spreading transmission power across many wavelengths within the optical spectrum (1000X than digital approaches, according to BGN). The amount of optical transmission power in a given wavelength is too small to be detected within optical noise. Meanwhile, the signal also is run through a commercially available phase mask to change the phase of each wavelength. This process also appears as noise and upsets signal coherence, thus hampering the ability to recompile the data without the correct encryption key. As the optical phase mask cannot be recorded offline, BGN notes, the data is destroyed if a hacker tries to decode it.

The approach is applicable to standard optical transmission technology and leverages the work of Ben-Gurion University researcher and Director of the Optical Communications Research Laboratory Prof. Dan Sadot, working with Prof. Zalevsky at Bar Ilan University. It appears similar to the spread-spectrum technology that is used in the RF domain to hide radar signals and other transmissions.

“Basically, the innovative breakthrough is that if you can’t detect it, you can’t steal it,” Prof. Sadot explained. “Because an eavesdropper can neither read the data nor even detect the existence of the transmitted signal, our optical stealth transmission provides the highest level of privacy and security for sensitive data applications.”

"The novel, patented method invented by Prof. Sadot and his team is highly useful for multiple applications, such as high-speed communication, sensitive transmission of financial, medical or social media-related information without the risk of eavesdropping or jamming data flow,” added Zafrir Levy, senior vice president for exact sciences and engineering at BGN. “In fact, with this method, an eavesdropper will require years to break the encryption key. BGN is now seeking an industry partner to implement and commercialize this game-changing technology."

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