Post-Quantum Security

Talk by Frank Leymann

2023-12-13

Location: TU Wien, FAV Hörsaal 1 (Favoritenstr. 9-11, Erdgeschoß, Room HEEG02)

Date & Time: 2023-12-13; 13:00 - 15:00

Abstract: We remind the underpinnings of classical encryption, factorization and elliptical curves, and their relation to discrete logarithms. After very briefly sketching the key resources of quantum computing, Shor’s algorithm is revealed to solve the discrete logarithm problem. Thus, quantum computing is jeopardizing today’s cryptographic infrastructure.

Lattice-based cryptography is introduced, and a brief overview on Dilithium and Kyber is given. These two algorithms are believed to be quantum safe, i.e. they promise to resist attacks by quantum (as well as classical) algorithms. While Dilithium and Kyber are already being standardized, a broad understanding of the above security threads is missing in industry. A sketch of activities of major industry players closes the talk.

Bio: Frank Leymann is the first Kurt Gödel Visiting Professor and an honorary professor at TU Wien. He studied Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at the University of Bochum, Germany. After receiving his master’s degree in 1982, he pursued his PhD in Mathematics in 1984. Afterwards, he joined IBM Research and Development and worked for two decades for the IBM Software Group.

In 2004, Frank Leymann was appointed as a full professor of computer science at the University of Stuttgart, where he founded the Institute of Architecture of Application Systems and serves as its director. His research interests encompass middleware in general, pattern languages, and cloud computing, with a current strong focus on quantum computing.

Frank is an elected member of the Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea). He published uncountable papers in journals and proceedings, co-authored four textbooks, and holds more than 70 patents, especially in the area of workflow management and transaction processing. He served on steering-, program- and organization committees of many international conferences, and is (associated) editor of several journals.

From 2006 to 2011, he was a member of the scientific directorate of Schloss Dagstuhl (Leibniz Center of Computer Science). In 2019, he was appointed as a Fellow at the Center of Integrated Quantum Science and Technology (IQST), and in 2020 he was appointed as Member of the Expert Council for Quantum Computing of the German Government.