Quantum Algorithms and their Applications in Cryptology: A Practical Approach

Cryptography has long been an essential tool in safeguarding digital communication and securing sensitive information. As technology has progressed, so has the complexity of the methods used to protect our data. In the wake of quantum computing’s rise, traditional cryptographic systems face serious challenges, demanding a new understanding of how quantum algorithms could both undermine and enhance security. Chapter 1 deals with the Basics of Cryptography lays the groundwork by introducing classical cryptography, tracing its evolution from ancient ciphers to modern cryptosystems. In Chapter 2, readers are introduced to Quantum Algorithms, the principles of quantum mechanics relevant to computing, including qubits, superposition, and entanglement. Chapter 3 focuses on Shor’s algorithm, a landmark quantum algorithm that threatens the security of widely used public-key cryptosystems like RSA and ECC. In Chapter 4, Grover’s Algorithm is examined in the context of brute-force attacks on symmetric key cryptography. Chapter 5 focuses on Simon’s Algorithm and its role in breaking cryptographic primitives through structure exploitation. In Chapter 6, a broader discussion about Cryptographic Implications of Quantum Computing is given on how quantum computing affects modern cryptographic systems. Finally, in Chapter 7, the future of cryptography in the quantum era is discussed.