Transporting a Secret using Destructively-Read Memory

Abstract

Alice wants to send Bob a secret such as a one-time pad. Our proposal is to use a specially designed mass-produced memory chip, rather like a flash drive, called a DeRM (Destructive-Read Memory). As with other distribution methods, including tamper-evident containers and QKD, we require a side-channel that provides end-point authentication and message integrity (although not message secrecy). Advantages of the DeRM over other tamper-evident containers include that DeRMs can be clonable, and correct verification that the DeRM has not been accessed in transit is ensured by the process of extracting the secret content.