The field of quantum computing focuses on using computing paradigm that is faster than even modern supercomputers. Moreover, the introduction of quantum computing may transform cryptography and make current cryptosystems insecure and weak to safeguard data.
The principle of quantum mechanics replaces the famous binary numbers 0 and 1 with multidimensional quantum bits known as qubits. This paradigm shift in computing has the potential of solving problems that are not feasible to solve using the current computing power. It is a threat to sustainability of current encryption algorithms. Furthermore, it may render the algorithms that depend on large prime number factorization strategy weak and insecure. RSA, Diffie-Hellman (DH) and related algorithms will be the immediate victims of quantum computing.
Quantum computing may also open doors for creating newer and complex cryptographic algorithms that are more powerful than the current cryptosystems. Quantum cryptography just do that and exploits the power of quantum computing to develop quantum resistant security solutions.
The industry has already started to think about the post quantum cryptographic algorithms and NIST has recently selected four cryptographic algorithms for the quantum era. Moreover, NIST’s four choices include CRYSTALS-Kyber, a public-private key-encapsulation mechanism (KEM) for general asymmetric encryption, such as when connecting websites. And for digital signatures, NIST selected CRYSTALS-Dilithium, FALCON, and SPHINCS+. According to NIST, these are quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms. Additionally, NIST is planning to add a few more algorithms to the mix in two years time.