As Quantum Computers Rise, the Race for 'Quantum-Resistant' Cryptography Intensifies
- Global big tech companies like Google and IBM are accelerating the development of Quantum Computers, prompting the information security industry to hasten the development of Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (PQC) to overcome the limitations of existing cryptographic systems.
- Quantum Computers can render the existing cryptographic system, the RSA Algorithm, ineffective, and in response, technologies like Lattice-based, Code-based, and Multivariate-based Cryptography have been selected as international standard candidates.
- In Korea, SK Telecom and KT are simultaneously developing Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technologies, and KT has demonstrated a Hybrid Quantum Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) service applying these technologies.
- The article was summarized using an artificial intelligence-based language model.
- Due to the nature of the technology, key content in the text may be excluded or different from the facts.
Existing Cryptography Can't Stop Quantum Computer Hacking
Development of Next-Gen 'Quantum-Resistant Cryptography' Accelerates
IBM Leads the Way ... SK Telecom and KT Also Developing
As global big tech companies like Google and IBM accelerate the development of quantum computers, the information security industry is also preparing countermeasures. This is because existing cryptographic systems cannot prevent hacking through quantum computers. As a result, the development of next-generation cryptographic systems, known as 'Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (PQC)', is speeding up.
As Quantum Computers Rise, the Race for 'Quantum-Resistant' Cryptography Intensifies. Currently, the widely used international cryptographic system is the 'RSA Algorithm', which utilizes prime factorization. The domestic joint certificate also uses this method. It involves generating two random numbers by prime factorizing a 617-digit number and using them as encryption keys. To decrypt the code, a third party must calculate all prime factor combinations. Even with a supercomputer, it would take over a million years to decrypt.
Quantum computers can render the RSA cryptographic system ineffective. While traditional computers process bit signals of 0 and 1 electrically in sequence, quantum computers use 'qubits', which superimpose the two signals, allowing for parallel computation. Google unveiled its quantum computer 'Willow' on the 14th of last month, stating, "A problem that would take a supercomputer 10^24 years to solve can be solved by a quantum computer in just 5 minutes."
The industry sees PQC, a next-generation cryptographic system that is difficult for quantum computers to hack, as an alternative. PQC is designed to block quantum computers from decrypting by being based on mathematically more complex problems. Although no technology has been established as a standard yet, the methods have been narrowed down to three.
These include 'Lattice-based Cryptography', which involves arranging countless lattice points in a virtual space of three or more dimensions to find specific patterns, 'Code-based Cryptography', which decrypts by backtracking codes mixed with errors, and 'Multivariate-based Cryptography', designed by combining multiple high-order equations. All these technologies were selected as international standard candidates by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) last year.
IBM is leading the development of PQC technology. Of the three PQC candidate technologies selected by NIST, IBM developed two. This is the result of applying the know-how accumulated from developing quantum computer technology since the 1970s to cryptographic systems.
In Korea, SK Telecom and KT are jointly developing Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and PQC. QKD is a security technology that encrypts and transmits information by embedding it in photons, the smallest unit of light. Since random numbers are included in the photons, it is difficult for outsiders to intercept the information. In November last year, KT demonstrated a 'Hybrid Quantum Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) Service' applying QKD and PQC. LG Uplus proposed a standard for the application of PQC to optical transmission networks in collaboration with the Korea Intelligence Information Society Agency (NIA). This was adopted by the Korea Information and Communication Technology Association (TTA) last year.
Reporter Oh Hyun-woo ohw@hankyung.com

Korea Economic Daily

hankyung@bloomingbit.ioThe Korea Economic Daily Global is a digital media where latest news on Korean companies, industries, and financial markets.PiCK News
"Over 600,000 New Coins Launched Last Month Alone... Will Alt Season Be Delayed Due to Liquidity Dispersion?"
1 hours ago
"Hong Kong Financial Authorities Consider Introducing Virtual Asset Leverage and Inverse ETFs"
4 hours ago
'Trump Effect' Expectations Soar... 'Bold Forecasts' for Altcoins
5 hours ago
US Digital Assets & AI Czar: 'Major Announcements Coming on Digital Assets'
9 hours ago
US Ethereum Spot ETF Records $11.7M Net Inflow
9 hours ago