Moving Towards a Quantum Age
Sayan Das, Nirmalya Kar, Subhrajyoti Deb · Advances in information security, privacy, and ethics book series · 2024
Currently on the precipice of a quantum age, the field of cryptography faces unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This chapter explores recent trends in both quantum and post-quantum cryptography, examining how advancements in quantum computing threaten existing cryptographic standards and iterates the requirement for creation of novel algorithms that are resistant to quantum attacks. A summary of algorithms requiring quantum hardware, such as Grover's and Shor's, that jeopardizes cryptography schemes like RSA and ECC has been provided. The standardization efforts in post-quantum cryptography, with particular attention on prominent candidate algorithms such as lattice-based cryptosystems, code-based cryptosystems, hash-based multivariate quadratic equations, and so on has been explored. Approaches which blend classical and post-quantum algorithms, are also covered. This chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of quantum and post-quantum cryptography, highlighting the urgent need for adaptation and innovation in protecting us against the imminent quantum threat.