McEliece: The Future of Asymmetric Encryption
As the quantum computers are gaining ground the current asymmetric encryption standards are challenged by Shor’s algorithm. Tonight we will introduce you to the McEliece cryptosystem which is one of the top candidates that could replace RSA.
Most encryption schemes are based on a trapdoor function, which is easy to compute the one way and thought to be very hard to reverse without a special key. These encryption schemes have never been unbreakable, but they are designed in such a way that it is considered infeasible to reverse them. But what happens if the trapdoor function that we rely on is suddenly found out to be reversible by quantum computers? And what can be done to ensure forward secrecy?
These are some of the questions we will address tonight, as quantum computing could be at the cusp of breaking RSA. Luckily the McEliece system is immune to attacks by Shor’s algorithm. Find out why this is the case and why we do not use it today, even though the current standards are no longer secure.
About the Speaker:
Freja is a Ph.d student specialized in post quantum cryptography at DTU, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. Her thesis evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of McEliece compared to other candidates for a new public key encryption primitive.
Organizer: Anton Rydahl, IDA IT
Catering: Coffee and tea at the beginning, and a soda and fruit in the break.
Free for members of IDA IT and Dansk IT
This event is closed for registration.
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