31 Greg Paperin 2007 Marian Quigley Encyclopaedia of Information Ethics and Security Idea Group Publishing 159140987X physics, data network, security In this article we aim to analyse some of the advances in security of communication since this discipline evolved and to pinpoint the main problems. We then introduce a modern attempt to solve some of these problems, in particular the key distribution problem, by using the theory of quantum mechanics to construct a communication system that automatically detects eavesdropping. We examine some of the implications of quantum mechanics relevant to this field and then introduce a selection of communication protocols based on them. Finally we examine how secure these protocols are and identify their potential weaknesses. http://books.igi-online.com/content/details.asp?ID=16806