First SmartCards using quantum-secure encryption methods receive security certification from the German Federal Office for Information Security
ID cards, credit cards, or SIM cards, also known as SmartCards, have an embedded integrated circuit chip that can provide personal authentication or protected data storage. Due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle, they require robust security measures. With the looming threat that quantum computers pose to classic encryption methods, the need to secure our data using quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms increases.
The German Federal Office for Information Security announced last week the first security certification of a SmartCard manufactured by Infineon Technologies AG that uses ML-KEM (a post-quantum cryptographic encryption algorithm) for protecting the user’s data. Peter Schwabe (Director at MPI-SP) and Eike Kiltz (Max Planck Fellow) are part of the team that created Kyber, the basis for the ML-KEM algorithm. The adoption and certification of quantum-resistant encryption methods by governmental institutions underscores the real-world impact of MPI-SP’s research.