A secure transaction method is provided for publicly-accessible transaction terminals. The method uses quantum key distribution (QKD) between a hand-portable QKD device and a complimentary QKD apparatus incorporated the transaction terminal. After the QKD device has been brought up to the transaction terminal, the QKD device and the complimentary QKD apparatus of the terminal are is used to provide the device and terminal with new secret shared random material. The new secret shared random material is then used to establish a secure classical communication channel between the device and transaction terminal for conducting a transaction. An ATM terminal and POS terminal that use quantum key distribution are also disclosed.