The transition to post-quantum cryptography, metaphorically

Stefan-Lukas Gazdag; Sophia Grundner-Culemann

Paper 2024/1487

The transition to post-quantum cryptography, metaphorically

Stefan-Lukas Gazdag

, genua GmbH

Sophia Grundner-Culemann, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Abstract

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? No, kids, the road to quantum-safety is long and sturdy. But let me tell you a story: Once upon a time, science discovered a great threat to Cryptography World: The scalable quantum computer! Nobody had ever seen one, but everyone understood it would break the mechanisms used to secure Internet communication since times of yore (or the late 20th century, anyway). The greatest minds from all corners of the land were gathered to invent, implement, and test newer, stronger tools. They worked day and night, but alas, when smaller quantum computers already started to emerge, no end to their research was in sight. How could that be? This paper provides a collection of carefully wrought, more or less creative and more or less consistent metaphors to explain to audiences at all expertise levels the manifold challenges researchers and practitioners face in the ongoing quest for post-quantum migration.

Metadata

Available format(s): PDF
Category: Cryptographic protocols
Publication info: Preprint.
Keywords: Post-quantum cryptography Transition Migration
Contact author(s): stefan-lukas_gazdag @ genua de
grundner-culemann @ nm ifi lmu de
History: 2024-09-24: last of 2 revisions; 2024-09-23: received; See all versions
Short URL: https://ia.cr/2024/1487
License: CC BY

BibTeX

@misc{cryptoeprint:2024/1487,
      author = {Stefan-Lukas Gazdag and Sophia Grundner-Culemann},
      title = {The transition to post-quantum cryptography, metaphorically},
      howpublished = {Cryptology {ePrint} Archive, Paper 2024/1487},
      year = {2024},
      url = {https://eprint.iacr.org/2024/1487}
}