From 40924bef0db23edc3623019797a6ee242ae9e92e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Heiko Schaefer Date: Wed, 1 Nov 2023 21:25:24 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Slightly expand/clarify phrasing on quantum resistance --- book/source/03-cryptography.md | 8 +------- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 7 deletions(-) diff --git a/book/source/03-cryptography.md b/book/source/03-cryptography.md index b85d982..32c989b 100644 --- a/book/source/03-cryptography.md +++ b/book/source/03-cryptography.md @@ -46,16 +46,10 @@ A symmetric cryptographic key (which acts as a shared secret) ### 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-key cryptographic mechanisms are believed to be resilient against possible advances in quantum computing[^postquantum]. [^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). -```{admonition} TODO -: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." -``` - However, exchanging the required shared secret is a problem that needs to be solved separately. [Hybrid cryptosystems](hybrid_cryptosystems) combine the advantages of symmetric-key cryptography with a separate mechanism for managing the shared secret, using public-key cryptography.