'Picnic' Passes Test for Protecting IoT From Quantum Hacks

Researchers at DigiCert, Utimaco, and Microsoft Research this week announced the successful test of a newly created algorithm named "Picnic," with digital certificates used to encrypt, authenticate, and provide integrity for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

The test used certificates issued by DigiCert using the Picnic quantum-safe digital signature algorithm developed by Microsoft Research. To implement the algorithm and issue certificates, DigiCert used an Utimaco Hardware Security Module.

The test is seen as a crucial step toward development of security solutions that will protect the IoT from advanced threats posed by quantum computing.

Scientists and engineers fear that quantum computers will provide the compute horsepower necessary to brute force many encryption schemes in a relatively short period of time, rendering devices that depend on digital keys, certificates, and strong passwords far less secure.

Read more here.

Join Dark Reading LIVE for two cybersecurity summits at Interop 2019. Learn from the industry's most knowledgeable IT security experts. Check out the Interop agenda here.