The Impact of Quantum Computing on Present Cryptography

TL;DR

This paper explores how quantum computing threatens current cryptographic methods and introduces post-quantum algorithms, highlighting the need for new cryptographic standards resilient to quantum attacks.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of quantum computing's impact on cryptography and introduces various post-quantum cryptographic techniques and protocols.

Findings

Quantum algorithms like Shor's threaten RSA and ECC.

Post-quantum schemes include lattice, multivariate, hash-based, and code-based cryptography.

Quantum key distribution offers secure communication methods.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to elucidate the implications of quantum computing in present cryptography and to introduce the reader to basic post-quantum algorithms. In particular the reader can delve into the following subjects: present cryptographic schemes (symmetric and asymmetric), differences between quantum and classical computing, challenges in quantum computing, quantum algorithms (Shor's and Grover's), public key encryption schemes affected, symmetric schemes affected, the impact on hash functions, and post quantum cryptography. Specifically, the section of Post-Quantum Cryptography deals with different quantum key distribution methods and mathematicalbased solutions, such as the BB84 protocol, lattice-based cryptography, multivariate-based cryptography, hash-based signatures and code-based cryptography.