The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the first three encryption standards designed to resist future cyberattacks based on quantum computing technology. The agency urges system administrators to start transitioning to these new algorithms as soon as possible, emphasizing the importance of timely adoption to protect sensitive information from potential attackers.
These new standards are based on three key algorithms: ML-KE (for general encryption), ML-DSA (for digital signatures), and SLH-DSA (a backup digital signature method). The first standard, FIPS 203, is a module-lattice-based key-encapsulation mechanism that enables secure key establishment over public channels. The second standard, FIPS 204, is a module-lattice-based digital signature algorithm designed to authenticate identities and ensure message integrity. The third standard, FIPS 205, is a stateless hash-based digital signature algorithm serving as an alternative to ML-DSA.
NIST encourages system administrators to start integrating these new encryption methods immediately, recognizing that the transition will take time. Already, tech leaders and privacy-focused product vendors have implemented NIST-approved post-quantum encryption standards, such as the Kyber key encapsulation algorithm, to protect data in transit.
Source: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/nist-releases-first-encryption-tools-to-resist-quantum-computing/