From 3fb0179a7726bc22138b6fdd26af9fce61597652 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "Tammi L. Coles" Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2023 17:11:01 +0200 Subject: [PATCH] clarify and question the benefits and downsides section --- book/source/03-cryptography.md | 10 ++++++++-- 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/book/source/03-cryptography.md b/book/source/03-cryptography.md index 4c9fd57..ac3021e 100644 --- a/book/source/03-cryptography.md +++ b/book/source/03-cryptography.md @@ -31,13 +31,19 @@ Participants in symmetric-key operations need to exchange the shared secret over ### Benefits and downsides -Symmetric-key cryptography has major benefits: it is much faster than public-key cryptography (see below). Also, most current symmetric cryptographic algorithms are considered quantum-resistant[^postquantum]. +Symmetric-key cryptography has major benefits: It is much faster than public-key cryptography (see below). Also, most current symmetric cryptographic algorithms are considered quantum-resistant[^postquantum]. + +```{admonition} +:class: warning + +I am not convinced that this information is helpful but, if it remains, perhaps we need this additional statement: "That is, symmetric-key cryptographic mechanisms are currently considered to be resilient against known computer threats, providing a measure of assurance in the evolving landscape of cryptography and quantum computing." [^postquantum]: Daniel J. Bernstein (2009). ["Introduction to post-quantum cryptography" (PDF)](http://www.pqcrypto.org/www.springer.com/cda/content/document/cda_downloaddocument/9783540887010-c1.pdf) states that: "many important classes of cryptographic systems", including secret-key cryptographic mechanisms like AES "[..] are believed to resist classical computers and quantum computers." (pages 1, 2). +``` However, exchanging the required shared secret is a problem that needs to be solved separately. -[Hybrid cryptosystems](hybrid_cryptosystems) (see below) are one common approach to leverage the benefits of symmetric-key cryptography, while handling the shared secret with a separate mechanism (using public-key cryptography). +[Hybrid cryptosystems](hybrid_cryptosystems) combine the advantages of symmetric-key cryptography with a separate mechanism for managing the shared secret, using public-key cryptography. ### Symmetric-key cryptography in OpenPGP