10/3/25
 

Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) encryption algorithms are here! 

PQC is for computers that we use everyday in our homes and workplace. It is also for Quantum Computers. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is for Quantum Computers only. NIST has chosen 5 PQC algorthims to standardize: 

• FIPS203 (ML-KEM or CRYSTALS-Kyber) can be found on their github repo & website
• FIPS204 (ML-DSA or CRYSTALS-Dilithium) can be found on their github repo & website
• FIPS205 (SLH-DSA or Sphincs+) can be found on their github repo & website
• draft FIPS206 (FN-DSA or Falcon) can be found on their website
• future draft HQC which is a backup of FIPS203 can be found on their gitlab repo & website
   

Implementations 

IBM already has some support in at least one of it's products. Google is using Kyber in their cloud KMS.  Open source projects, e.g., GPG, Proton mail are a planning on support based on IETF standards. Check out this github repo & OpenPGP.foo's website posts. Also, Cloudflare is using it for TLS according to their website. OpenSSH has an implementation for FIPS203. Check out their website. Let's start using them and secure our future together. 

Sources:

• nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/08/nist-releases-first-3-finalized-post-quantum-encryption-standards
• nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/03/nist-selects-hqc-fifth-algorithm-post-quantum-encryption
• datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-openpgp-pqc

Future 

The next step in the Information Assurance landscape might be QKD for Quantum Computers. We at Computers & Networks hope to see a QKD protocol as a standard in the near future.