Cryptology ePrint Archive: Report 2017/314

Post-quantum cryptography---dealing with the fallout of physics success

Daniel J. Bernstein and Tanja Lange

Abstract: Cryptography is essential for the security of Internet communication, cars, and implanted medical devices. However, many commonly used cryptosystems will be completely broken once big quantum computers exist.

Post-quantum cryptography is cryptography under the assumption that the attacker has a large quantum computer; post-quantum cryptosystems strive to remain secure even in this scenario. This relatively young research area has seen some successes in identifying mathematical operations for which quantum algorithms offer little speedup, and then building cryptographic systems around those. The central challenge in post-quantum cryptography is to meet demands for cryptographic usability and flexibility without sacrificing trust.

Category / Keywords: public-key cryptography / post-quantum cryptography

Date: received 9 Apr 2017

Contact author: authorcontact-fallout at box cr yp to

Available format(s): PDF | BibTeX Citation

Version: 20170414:165615 (All versions of this report)

Short URL: ia.cr/2017/314