The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has selected a new encryption algorithm called HQC as a backup defense against potential threats from quantum computers. This move is part of NIST’s efforts to provide a secure framework for protecting sensitive electronic information, including internet traffic, medical records, and corporate secrets.
Currently, the recommended standard for general encryption is ML-KEM, which uses structured lattices to protect data. However, HQC uses error-correcting codes, which offer a different approach to security. While HQC is longer and more computationally intensive than ML-KEM, it has been deemed worthy of inclusion as a backup option.
HQC will take its place alongside four other algorithms that have been finalized into standards, including ML-KEM. These standards are designed to safeguard internet traffic and stored data, and organizations are already integrating them into their information systems to future-proof them.
NIST plans to release a draft standard for HQC in about a year, followed by a public comment period before finalizing the standard for release in 2027. The selection of HQC reflects NIST’s ongoing efforts to adapt to emerging threats and ensure the security of sensitive data.
As quantum computers continue to advance, organizations must take proactive steps to protect their encryption systems. NIST’s post-quantum cryptography project has been working on this issue since 2016, and its efforts aim to provide a secure framework for protecting electronic information in the face of potential threats from quantum computers.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/03/nist-selects-hqc-fifth-algorithm-post-quantum-encryption