Cybersecurity in the Quantum Era-A Study of Perceived Risks in Conventional Cryptography and Discussion on Post Quantum Methods

Abstract

Information security in communication networks is a persistent problem and essentially requires the usage of encryption methods. Quantum computing was first used to break encryption codes in the latter half of the 20th century with the introduction of the SHOR algorithm. Though the recent developments in QC capabilities have increased confidentiality, integrity, and availability of networks by protecting them against passive attacks like eavesdropping yet the transformation of classical to quantum computation can bear catastrophic implications as it has the potential to put the currently secure methods of transactions in jeopardy. This paper aims at the evaluation and comparison of traditional cryptographic techniques by the application of a SWOT framework. It takes up an exploratory study of the advanced quantum computing capabilities that can pose a massive risk to network security. The various security enhancements that can be adopted in data transmission to curtail these risks post-quantum are also discussed.