The National Institute of Standards and Technology has selected 14 candidates to advance to the second round of additional digital signatures for the post-quantum cryptography standardization process.
The advancing digital signature algorithms include CROSS, FAEST, HAWK, LESS, MAYO, Mirath, MQOM, PERK, QR-UOV, RYDE, SDitH, SNOVA, SQIsign and UOV, NIST said Friday.
For winning spots in the second round, the candidates will be allowed to update their encryption algorithms, such as specification adjustments and tweak implementations. During the second phase, the digital signatures will be evaluated and reviewed and the process will run up to 18 months.
The PQC standardization process is part of NIST’s efforts to produce quantum-resistant algorithms that would enhance the security of digital information in the United States. The program started gaining progress in July 2022 with the selection of the first batch of encryption algorithms designed to resist a future quantum computer attack.
NIST intends to integrate the selected digital signature algorithms into its evolving PQC standard, which is set to be finalized in 2024 at the earliest.