Cryptology ePrint Archive: Report 2015/1018

A Riddle Wrapped in an Enigma

N. Koblitz and A. Menezes

Abstract: In August 2015 the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) released a major policy statement on the need for post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This announcement will be a great stimulus to the development, standardization, and commercialization of new quantum-safe algorithms. However, certain peculiarities in the wording and timing of the statement have puzzled many people and given rise to much speculation concerning the NSA, elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), and quantum-safe cryptography. Our purpose is to attempt to evaluate some of the theories that have been proposed.

Category / Keywords: public-key cryptography / NSA, post-quantum cryptography, elliptic curve cryptography, NIST curves

Date: received 20 Oct 2015, last revised 21 Oct 2015

Contact author: koblitz at uw edu

Available format(s): PDF | BibTeX Citation

Version: 20151021:224623 (All versions of this report)

Short URL: ia.cr/2015/1018

Discussion forum: Show discussion | Start new discussion