Post Quantum Cryptography Standardisation Project
Context:
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the US has started the Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Standardisation Project.
- The project would allow companies to have the proper encryption algorithms in place throughout the organization to defend against the quantum computer attacks.
- The PQC standardization project is working to standardize the quantum-safe algorithms.
- The idea behind this project is to prepare organizations for quantum cryptography before it becomes a real threat.
- A quantum-safe algorithm is resistant to attacks from both classical computers, which are the types of computers used today, and quantum computers.
- This allows private information stored on devices or in transit in organizations to be the most secure possible, as even a quantum computer will not be able to break a quantum-safe algorithm within hours or days.
- Post-quantum cryptography refers to cryptographic algorithms (usually public-key algorithms) that are thought to be secure against an attack by a quantum computer.
- Quantum cryptography uses the principles of quantum mechanics to send secure messages, and unlike mathematical encryption, is truly unhackable.