Quantum-resistant authentication: Securing identity and data against quantum threats
Ana Isabel González-Tablas, Universidad Carlos Ⅲ de Madrid, Dpto. de Informática, COSEC Lab. Avda. de la Universidad, 30. 28911 Leganés, Madrid, España, María Isabel González Vasco, Universidad Carlos Ⅲ de Madrid, Dpto. de Matemáticas, Avda. de la Universidad, 30. 28911 Leganés, Madrid, España · AIMS Mathematics · 2025
Quantum computing presents a significant threat to traditional cryptographic protocols, particularly those relying on the hardness of factoring large integers and computing discrete logarithms, as quantum algorithms can solve these problems in polynomial time. With the advent of quantum computers capable of breaking current cryptographic schemes, the need for quantum-resistant cryptographic mechanisms has become increasingly urgent. In this paper, we focused on authentication, a critical security property, and reviewed various classical cryptographic techniques to this aim and their potential to resist quantum attacks. We present a (non-exhaustive) overview of the state of the art in quantum-resistant authentication, particularly through symmetric cryptography, digital signatures, and hardware-based approaches such as physical unclonable functions ($\textsf{PUF}$s). By offering a clear and focused analysis, we used this survey to bridge the gap between diverse academic communities and provide a foundation for future research in post-quantum authentication.