• Topic Area
  • Subfield
  • Topic

Crypto­gra­phy

Current encryp­tion methods securing most of today’s Inter­net traffic rely on the assumed hardness of mathe­ma­ti­cal problems such as facto­ring large integers. Progress in algorithms or the advent of powerful quantum compu­ters could eventually allow adver­s­a­ries to decrypt stored encrypted data. Quantum crypto­gra­phy instead uses princi­ples of quantum mecha­nics to secure commu­ni­ca­tion. Its core techni­que is quantum key distri­bu­tion (QKD), in which two parties create a shared secret key by trans­mit­ting fragile quantum states, typically single photons. Any eaves­drop­ping attempt unavo­id­a­bly disturbs these states and is revea­led by statis­ti­cal tests, making QKD a candi­date for long term protec­tion of highly sensi­tive infor­ma­tion. Quantum crypto­gra­phy is relevant for future proofing sensi­tive data, although today it is mainly deployed in niche, high value network links due to cost and distance limits.

Partners