Cybersecurity

Experts Move Closer to Securing Against Quantum Computer Hacks

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announcedthis week it's selected 26 out of the original 69 submitted post-quantum cryptographic algorithms that are supposed to resist attacks from future quantum computers. Quantum computers are currently predicted to break most of the existing encryption algorithms used to secure communications, such as RSA, ECC, DH and even AES.

Cryptography combines encryption and decryption. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need encryption powered by quantum computing systems to protect against other quantum computers trying to break that encryption. There are other forms of cryptography that are supposed to be 'resistant' to quantum computers. Google, for instance, has already been experimenting with one such algorithm in Chrome. However, Google will likely end up implementing one of the standards approved by NIST.

Back in 2016, NIST started the competition for the standardization of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. A total of 69 algorithms were submitted, and the agency has now selected 26 to go into the second round of standardization.