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Summary
Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) - An area of cryptography that researches and advances the use of quantum-resistant primitives, with the goal of keeping existing public key infrastructure intact in a future era of quantum computing. Intended to be secure against both quantum and classical computers and deployable without drastic changes to existing communication protocols and networks.
Description
In recent years, there has been a substantial amount of research on quantum computers – machines that exploit quantum mechanical phenomena to solve mathematical problems that are difficult or intractable for conventional computers. If large-scale quantum computers are ever built, they will be able to break many of the public-key cryptosystems currently in use. This would seriously compromise the confidentiality and integrity of digital communications on the Internet and elsewhere. The goal of post-quantum cryptography (also called quantum-resistant cryptography) is to develop cryptographic systems that are secure against both quantum and classical computers, and can interoperate with existing communications protocols and networks.
Post-Quantum Encryption:
A Q&A With NIST’s Matt Scholl
Post-Quantum Cryptography: the Good, the Bad, and the Powerful (video)
For a complete overview of the project,
including events and publications,
visit the CSRC page on Post-Quantum Cryptography
PQC Crypto Technical Inquiries: pqc-comments [at] nist.gov (pqc-comments[at]nist[dot]gov)