CITIC researchers from the University of A Coruña, Martiño Rivera and David Soler, were selected to present their research at the Jornadas Nacionales de Investigación en Ciberseguridad (JNIC 2025), one of Spain’s leading cybersecurity events. Their contributions, focused on network authentication and quantum network simulation, represent innovative advances with potential impact on the future of digital security.

Martiño Rivera presented FIDO2CAP, a new protocol that adapts FIDO2 authentication mechanisms—commonly used in web services to replace passwords—to Wi-Fi networks with captive portals. This pioneering proposal allows the use of FIDO2 security keys and access credentials to connect securely to public networks without relying on vulnerable or shared passwords.

The work includes the development of a functional prototype and a usability study with users, validating both its technical feasibility and practical acceptance.

David Soler, for his part, contributed a significant enhancement to the QKDNetSim simulator within the NS-3 environment, widely used in academia. His improved version, QKDNetSim+, optimises key material management and network behaviour, enabling more accurate simulation of real-world quantum key distribution (QKD) infrastructures—a key technology for future security systems.

This tool will support the development and evaluation of quantum networks without the need for costly physical infrastructure, helping democratise access to research in this emerging field.

Both projects were presented during the young researchers’ sessions at JNIC 2025, a forum that brings together universities, technology centres, companies and public administrations each year to discuss current advances and challenges in cybersecurity.