The US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has selected the first group encryption tools that are mainly designed to withstand the assault of a quantum computer, which can crack the security used for protecting the privacy in the digital systems such as email software and online banking.
The selected four encryption algorithms will now become a part of the post-quantum cryptographic standard of NIST, which is expected to be finalized in around two years. Gina M. Raimondo, secretary of commerce, said this announcement is an important milestone in securing their sensitive data against the possibility of cyberattacks from quantum computers.
She added, thanks to the commitment and expertise of NIST to cutting-edge technology, and they are able to take the necessary steps to protect electronic information so that, the businesses in the United States can continue innovating while maintaining the confidence and trust of their customers.
NIST director and under-secretary of commerce and technology Laurie E. Locascio, said NIST is constantly looking to the future to anticipate the needs of industry and society in the United States, and when they are built, the quantum computer are powerful enough to break the current encryption technology, which pose a serious threat to their information systems.
She added, their post-quantum cryptography program has leveraged the top experts in cryptography in the world to produce the first group quantum-resistant algorithms that will significantly increase the security of their digital information.
