Quantum-Resistant Cryptography

Abstract

Quantum-resistant cryptography develops cryptographic protocols and algorithms that can withstand attacks from quantum computers. Quantum computers can solve certain mathematical problems much faster than classical computers, making current encryption techniques like RSA and ECC vulnerable to quantum algorithms such as Shor's algorithm. To address this, quantum-resistant cryptography focuses on creating new algorithms based on mathematical problems that are difficult for quantum computers to solve efficiently. Examples include lattice-based, code-based, hash-based, and multivariate polynomial cryptography. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading efforts to standardize these algorithms to ensure they are compatible with various systems and applications. While these quantum-resistant algorithms offer protection, they may involve higher computational complexity and larger key sizes compared to traditional methods, posing implementation challenges that ongoing research aims to address.