Comparative Analysis of Conventional and Post-Quantum Cryptographic Algorithms

Although quantum computers are still in their infancy, their operational costs are already beginning to decline. Within the next decade, quantum computing systems are expected to become commonplace in large businesses, government agencies, and other organizations. It is likely that these systems will be accessible not only to legitimate users, but also to adversaries with malicious intentions. Quantum computers can break conventional cryptographic algorithms, jeopardizing the confidentiality of network data communications. In response, post-quantum cryptographic algorithms are being developed to resist quantum-based brute-force attacks by minimizing the computational speedup which quantum computers provide. This research compares three leading post-quantum cryptographic algorithms against three of their conventional counterparts. Evaluate your encryption, decryption, and key generation operations in terms of memory usage, processor consumption, and execution time. The results of this comparative analysis and their implications for future cryptographic security in the post-quantum era are discussed.