Design of A Post Quantum Key Encapsulation Mechanism for Consumer Electronics Using Ring Learning with Layered Errors

The rise in technical features and capabilities of consumer electronics (CSE) devices ranging from smartphones, high fidelity (Hifi) radio systems, MP radio sets and IoT-enabled smart devices, have created new possibilities about their use and applications. You tube files can now be downloaded on smartphones and played directly on high fidelity audio radio sets through Bluetooth. There have also been increase in the use of smart phones in diverse areas of life such as in academics, industries etc., where the use of online lectures and video conference meetings have increased in recent times. It is evident that these technologies offer convenience and smart connectivity, on the downside however is the security concern resulting from these communications. Classical cryptography algorithms built into these consumer electronics are prone to quantum computing attacks, and with the steady growth of quantum computing and algorithms, it is only a matter of time before the current classical cryptography algorithms become obsolete. This aim of this paper is to design a light weight Ring Learning With Layered Errors Key Encapsulation Mechanism (RLWLEKEM), a CCA secure lattice based post quantum cryptography algorithm for consumer electronics (CSE) platform. Experiments were conducted on Raspberry Pi 5, which served as a representative testbed for resource constrained CSE devices. Results were gathered using the experimental test bed to compare the performance of RLWLEKEM with some selected cryptography protocols such as code based cryptography (CBC), and classical cryptography algorithms. Performance metrics used for comparison include encryption time, execution time, communication overhead and energy consumption. Experimental results show that RLWLEKEM outperforms the other compared cryptography protocols in terms of time to complete cryptography process, storage/communication overhead and energy consumption and thus was most suitable for deployment as post quantum cryptography key encapsulation mechanism on energy constrained CSE devices.