The technology industry is heading full speed towards quantum computing, but this advance also includes the beginning of a new era for cybercrime.
Although quantum computers are expected to help solve problems that are too complicated for modern computers, they can also pose a danger if cybercriminal groups use them to carry out attacks. This is why it is necessary to support this technology with adequate cybersecurity, before criminal groups or geopolitical enemies also enter the quantum era.
In this context, IBM has launched a “historic announcement” on Tuesday, in which the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the United States Department of Commerce has published the first three quantum encryption standards in the world. In other words, these are the first three cryptographic algorithms resistant to quantum computing, so that they will be able to continue protecting the private information of individuals and institutions from possible attacks carried out with this new technology.
These standards, two of them developed by IBM employees (the third is by an engineer who also recently joined IBM), were first proposed in 2016, when NIST invited computer scientists from around the world to submit their post-quantum cryptography designs.
Among 69 proposals, NIST selected four for further study in 2022. Three of them have now become official standards, while the fourth is currently under evaluation and will likely be added to the list as well.
New cryptographic standards
These are the three standards that have been normalized:
- ML-KEM, “a key encapsulation mechanism selected for general encryption, such as for accessing secure websites.”
- ML-DSA, “a network-based algorithm of choice for general-purpose digital signature protocols.”
- SLH-DSA, “a stateless hash-based digital signature scheme.”
These algorithms are intended to protect data exchanged on public networks and the digital signatures used to authenticate people’s identities. Currently, encryption algorithms such as RSA are used, an encryption system that could be surpassed by quantum computing.
Having these security algorithms supports the roadmap set by IBM, a company that plans to present its first error-correcting quantum system in 2029. “NIST’s publication of the world’s first three post-quantum cryptography standards represents an important step in efforts to build a secure future with quantum computing,” the company said.
Once they are put into use, these algorithms should be powerful enough to ensure that no hacker, even if he or she has a quantum computer, can breach the security of information held by companies or public bodies.
IBM wants to lead the quantum era
The American hardware and software manufacturer intends to lead the way in the new era of quantum computing, which, as we mentioned, involves the presentation of its first error-correcting quantum system in 2029.
The company expects the system to be able to perform hundreds of millions of quantum operations to deliver accurate results, solving complex problems that are currently inaccessible to ordinary computers. Looking ahead, IBM’s roadmap includes plans to expand the system to run more than a billion quantum operations by 2033.
