ADVANCING POST QUANTUM CRYPTOGRAPHY DEVELOPING SECURE ENCRYPTION METHODS RESISTANT TO QUANTUM ATTACKS

With the current increase in the rate of quantum computing, traditional cryptographic algorithms face a significant risk of compromise, as they are based on mathematical problems that quantum algorithms can efficiently solve. One solution to this challenge has come up in the form of post-quantum cryptography (PQC). By having a hybrid encrypted solution that combines the two different encryption algorithms, NTRU quantum-resistant and fast AES symmetric-key, with a well-integrated combination presented in this paper, we aim to usher in secure and safe data in the post-quantum era. This mixed regime is the most advanced approach that combines classical and quantum encryption. We compare the performance of the system with that of standalone AES, NTRU, and RSA-based systems, examining aspects such as encryption, decryption, key generation, and key size. Benchmarks indicate that the hybrid system has an overhead, but its performance is passable; encryption times are 60ms and 14000ms for 1 KB and 5000 KB of data, respectively, compared to 12ms for 1 KB and 50ms for 5000 KB by AES and NTRU. The same can be said about decryption, with the hybrid system being more efficient than NTRU but still slower than AES. The NTRU key generation times were depicted as unfavorable compared to those of AES, and this margin was seen to increase as the key sizes of NTRU were varied. Compared to executing the same algorithm on a classical computer, the hybrid system is relatively computationally expensive but offers strong quantum resistance. A hybrid encryption system based on the AES-NTRU is a solution to the quantum computing threat to data security. Later projects will be based around various efforts to optimize the NTRU system, also including hardware acceleration opportunities and an increase in the system utilization in real-life environments.