Niszt invited computer scientists to submit candidate post quantum algorithms for public key cryptography. The algorithms are being judged by both their security and their efficiency, which includes the speed of execution and compactness of the public keys. Teams from academic laboratories and companies with members from four dozen countries on six continents submitted 82 algaritms, of which 65 were accepted.
Almost everything we do on the Internet is made possible by cryptographic algorithms, which scramble our data to protect our privacy. However, this privacy could be under threat. If quantum computers reach their potential these machines could crack current encryption systems — leaving our online data vulnerable.
To limit the damage of this so called 'Q-day', researchers are racing to develop new cryptographic systems, capable of withstanding a quantum attack.
This is an audio version of our feature: The race to save the Internet from quantum hackers
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