VOL. 66 August 2021
ETRI Develops the World’s First Cryptography
Quantum-security Verification Technology
- Preparing to verify a cryptography algorithm designed to prevent hacking with quantum computing.
- New technology unveiled at the “PQCrypto 2021” held in DCC for three days from the 20th of July.
A domestic research team has developed the world’s first exclusive cryptographic analysis platform. It is expected that the effort to create a higher-security cryptographic algorithm will be accelerated to meet rapidly evolving quantum computer times.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) unveiled Q Crypton, a platform designed to verify safe cryptographic systems in the quantum computing environment, at the PQCrypto 20211) event held at the Daejeon Convention Center (DCC) and on line for three days from 20th of July.
Q Crypton,2) a cryptography quantum-security verification platform developed by ETRI, is designed to verify the quantum security of various cryptographic systems including traditional cryptography such as RSA,3) a public key cryptographic system and next-generation Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC)4), etc. As the platform has now been unveiled, the basis for verifying cryptographic algorithms to prevent hacking with quantum computers is now being prepared. The research team has devised a plan for the stepwise disclosure of the platform to applicants via a website browser.
1) Official society name “The Twelfth International Conference on Post-Quantum Cryptography”, Holding in Daejeon DCC.
2) <Q|Crypton> A platform to evaluate or analyze cryptography quantum-security
3) RSA LiOne of public key cryptographic systems and the first algorithm for possible electronic signing as well as encryption. It was systematized by Ron Rivest, Adi Shamir and Leonard Adleman, etc. in 1978. It was named using the names of such three people. Also, AES and ECC, etc. are currently widely used public key cryptographic systems.
4) It is abbreviation of Post-Quantum Cryptography and means the cryptography to be safe after quantum computing times, too. It is usually translated into quantum-resistant cryptography or post-quantum cryptography, etc. It is a concept different from quantum cryptography.
The platform may analyze even more accurately and simulate the quantitative security of cryptography because various environmental factors - including the Qubit5) scale, quantum computer chip structure and error rate, etc. can be considered for each quantum computer company.
Also, as visualization programming technology and the cryptography core operation library are applied, quantum algorithms can be developed for cryptographic analysis rapidly and efficiently. The quantum circuit is schematized to facilitate intuitive understanding of complex formulas at a glance, and has been shortened by eliminating the need to input each item of information.
In addition, the platform enables the compilation (language processing) of quantum algorithms and verification with the use of virtual machines, and has a quantum resource analysis function, etc.
5) Basic unit of quantum computers equivalent to bit of digital computers. Qubit scale implemented in quantum computers is different by company. Google succeeded in development of 54 Qubit quantum computers in July, 2020 and IBM launched 65 Qubit processor in September, 2020.
ETRI’s research team intends to continue building the optimum environment for possible cryptography quantum-security analysis by improving the functions and adding libraries.
The newly unveiled technology will help enterprises, research institutions and public agencies to conduct research on next-generation cryptography, and also assist the development of quantum computers because it is possible to verify the performances of the programs to be installed in quantum computers.
This technology is highly significant in that the research teams of ETRI’s Future Cryptographic Engineering Laboratory and its Quantum Computing Laboratory have succeeded in implementing a cryptographic security verification platform in consideration of the actual quantum computing environment through joint research for the first time in the world.
Kim Ik Kyun, assistant vice president of Cyber Security Research Division, said, “Concerns about the incapacitation of current public key cryptographic systems by quantum computers are being realized. We will try construct as soon as possible the next-generation security infrastructure based on the best technology in the world in the quantum security area.”
Basic unit of quantum computers equivalent to bit of digital computers is. Qubit scale implemented in quantum computers is different by company. Google succeeded in development of 54 Qubit quantum computers in July, 2020 and IBM launched 65 Qubit processor in September, 2020.
Meanwhile, PQCrypto 2021, the international academic conference jointly held by ETRI and KAIST, at which the performance was presented, is the world’s best international academic conference on Post-Quantum Cryptography. The twelfth conference was held on line6) this year, with more than 340 domestic and foreign quantum security professionals from 38 countries in attendance, and included discussion and debate on recent research trends. Anybody may attend the conference free of charge after registering at the official website .
ETRI disclosed Q Crypton at the session held on the 21st for the first time in the world.
