Data Encryption Methods

Breakthrough for the #quantum internet: For the first time a major telco provider has successfully conducted entangled photon experiments - on its own infrastructure. ➡️ 30 kilometers, 17 days, 99 per cent fidelity. Our teams at T-Labs have successfully transmitted entangled photons over a fiber-optic network. Over a distance comparable to travelling from Berlin to Potsdam. The system automatically compensated for changing environmental conditions in the network.   Together with our partner Qunnect we have demonstrated that quantum entanglement works reliably. The goal: a quantum internet that supports applications beyond secure point-to-point networks. Therefore, it is necessary to distribute the types of entangled photons. The so-called qubits, that are used for #QuantumComputing, sensors or memory. Polarization qubits, like the ones used for this test, are highly compatible with many quantum devices. But: they are difficult to stabilize in fibers.   From the lab to the streets of Berlin: This success is a decisive step towards the quantum internet. 🔬 It shows how existing telecommunications infrastructure can support the quantum technologies of tomorrow. This opens the door to new forms of communication.   Why does this matter for people and society?   🗨️ Improved communications: The quantum internet promises faster and more efficient long-distance communications. 🔐 Maximum security: Entanglement can be used in quantum key distribution protocols. Enabling ultra-secure communication links for enterprises and government institutions 💡Technological advancement: high-precision time synchronization for satellite networks and highly accurate sensing in industrial IoT environments will need entanglement.   Developing quantum technologies isn’t just a technical challenge. A #humancentered approach asks how these systems can be built to serve real needs and be part of everyday infrastructure. With 2025 designated as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, now is the time to move from research to readiness. Matheus Sena, Marc Geitz, Riccardo Pascotto, Dr. Oliver Holschke, Abdu Mudesir

🔐 Data in Use --Protection Strategies ⚠️ The Challenge When data is being processed in memory (RAM/CPU), it’s usually decrypted, which makes it vulnerable to: 💥 Insider threats 💥 Malware/memory scraping 💥 Cloud provider access ✅ Solutions for Data in Use 1. Homomorphic Encryption (HE) Data stays encrypted even during computation. Supports analytics, AI/ML, and calculations without exposing raw values. 💥 Use case: A hospital can run statistics on encrypted patient data without seeing individual records. Downside: Very slow for large-scale real-time workloads (still improving). 2. Secure Enclaves / Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) Hardware-based isolation → a secure “enclave” inside the CPU where data is decrypted and processed. Even the system admin or cloud provider cannot see inside. ✨ Examples: 💥 Intel SGX 💥 AMD SEV 💥 AWS Nitro Enclaves → lets you isolate EC2 instances for secure key management, medical data processing, payment transactions, etc. 💥 Use case: A bank can run fraud detection models on sensitive financial data in the cloud without exposing it to AWS staff. 3. Confidential Computing Broader concept: combines TEEs, encrypted memory, and sometimes HE. Ensures that data remains protected throughout its lifecycle (rest, transit, use). ✨ Cloud examples: 💥 AWS Nitro Enclaves 💥 Azure Confidential Computing 💥 Google Confidential VMs 4. Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) Multiple parties compute a function jointly without revealing their private inputs. Often used in cryptocurrency custody, federated learning, and zero-knowledge proofs. 💥 Example: Banks collaboratively detect fraud patterns without sharing customer records. #learnwithswetha #encryption #datainuse #learning #dataprotection #privacy

India just crossed a major milestone in the race for quantum-secure communication — and it's not science fiction anymore. DRDO & IIT Delhi have successfully demonstrated Quantum Entanglement-Based Free-Space Secure Communication — over 1 km using an optical link on campus. Here’s why these matters: 1) Entangled photons were used to create secure cryptographic keys 2) No optical fiber needed — it worked over free space. 3) Achieved ~240 bits/sec secure key rate. 4) Quantum Bit Error Rate was below 7%. So, what’s the big deal? 1) It proves that we can build secure communication systems without needing underground cables — perfect for difficult terrains, defense zones, or remote areas. 2) Even if someone tries to intercept the message, the quantum state changes — making the intrusion detectable. 3) It’s another step toward building the Quantum Internet in India. The work was led by Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri’s team at IIT Delhi and supported by DRDO under its “Centres of Excellence” initiative. #QuantumComputing #QuantumCommunication #DRDO #IITDelhi #QuantumIndia #QuantumSecurity #Photonics #Research #QuantumInternet

🚨 NEW PEER-REVIEWED RESEARCH: PQC Migration Timelines Excited to share my latest paper published in MDPI Computers: "Enterprise Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography: Timeline Analysis and Strategic Frameworks." The transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) represents a watershed moment in the history of our digital civilization. Organizations planning for a 3-5 year "upgrade" will fail. The reality is a 10-15-year systemic transformation. Key Contributions: 📊 Realistic Timeline Estimates by Enterprise Size: Small (≤500 employees): 5-7 years Medium (500-5K): 8-12 years Large (>5K): 12-15+ years ⚠️ Critical Finding: With FTQC expected 2028-2033, large enterprises face a 3-5 year vulnerability window—migration may not complete before quantum computers break RSA/ECC. 🔬 Novel Framework Analysis: Causal dependency mapping (HSM certification, partner coordination as critical paths) "Zombie algorithm" maintenance overhead quantified (20-40%) Zero Trust Architecture implications for PQC 💡 Practical Guidance: Crypto-agility frameworks and phased migration strategies for immediate action. Strategic Recommendations for Leadership: 1. Prioritize by Data Value, Not System Criticality: Invert the traditional triage model. Systems protecting long-lived data (IP, PII, Secrets) must migrate first, regardless of their operational uptime criticality, to mitigate SNDL. 2. Fund the "Invisible" Infrastructure: Budget immediately for the expansion of PKI repositories, bandwidth upgrades, and HSM replacements. These are long-lead items that cannot be rushed. 3. Establish a Crypto-Competency Center: Do not rely solely on generalist security staff. Invest in specialized training or retain dedicated PQC counsel to navigate the mathematical and implementation nuances. The talent shortage will only worsen. 4. Demand Vendor Roadmaps: Contractual language must shift. Procurement should require vendors to provide binding roadmaps for PQC support. "We are working on it" is no longer an acceptable answer for critical supply chain partners. 5. Embrace Hybridity: Accept that the future is hybrid. Design architectures that can support dual-stack cryptography indefinitely, viewing it not as a temporary bridge but as a long-term operational state. 6. Implement Automated Discovery: You cannot migrate what you cannot see. Deploy automated cryptographic discovery tools to continuously map the cryptographic posture of the estate, identifying shadow IT and legacy instances that manual surveys miss. The quantum clock is ticking. Start planning NOW. https://lnkd.in/eHZBD-5Y 📄 DOI: https://lnkd.in/ejA9YpsG #PostQuantumCryptography #Cybersecurity #QuantumComputing #PQC #InfoSec #NIST #CryptoAgility

If you’ve ever turned on BitLocker and then wondered why a fast NVMe machine suddenly feels a little less fast, you’re not imagining it. Microsoft’s calling out the problem directly: modern NVMe drives can push I/O so fast that software BitLocker starts eating a bigger slice of CPU, especially in heavy workloads like video editing, dev builds, and gaming. The fix is hardware-accelerated BitLocker, starting with the September 2025 update for Windows 11 24H2 and rolling into Windows 11 25H2. Two changes matter: - Crypto offloading: bulk encryption work shifts from the main CPU to a dedicated crypto engine, which can free CPU cycles and help battery life. - Hardware protected keys: bulk encryption keys can be wrapped in hardware (when the SoC supports it), reducing exposure to CPU and memory attacks. The part most orgs are gonna miss is your BitLocker policy can quietly cancel the improvement. If you’re enforcing older modes like AES-CBC, or locking key options your hardware can’t accelerate, Windows has no choice but to stay on the slower path. Want to verify? Run manage-bde -status and check the Encryption Method. How many of your fleets are actually going to get this by default?

📌The financial sector has now moved from quantum awareness to quantum execution. Europol , FS-ISAC , and the Quantum Safe Financial Forum (QSFF), together with major financial institutions, published: “Prioritising Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration Activities in Financial Services” ; a practical migration framework designed specifically for financial institutions. What makes this report particularly relevant for #boards, #regulators, and #CISOs? It introduces a structured prioritisation methodology based on two measurable dimensions: 1️⃣ Quantum Risk Score Derived from: • Shelf life of protected data • Exposure • Severity of compromise 2️⃣ Migration Time Score Derived from: • Solution availability • Execution cost and time • External dependencies Migration Priority is determined by combining both scores into a risk–time matrix (see pages 8–10) of the Report below ⬇️ . ♨️ This shifts the conversation from “When will Q-Day happen?” to “Which business use cases require action now, and which require long-term orchestration?” Two examples in the report illustrate this distinction: 🔹 Points of Sale (#PoS) Medium quantum risk but high migration complexity due to hardware lifecycles, ecosystem coordination, and standardisation uncertainty (pages 12–15) . ⛔️Early planning is essential to avoid costly out-of-cycle replacements. 🔹 Public Websites (#TLS_confidentiality) Medium quantum risk but low migration time due to hybrid schemes such as X25519MLKEM768 already supported by major browsers and CDNs (pages 16–19) . ⛔️This is one of the earliest practical deployment opportunities for quantum-safe protection in production environments. Another important contribution of the report is its focus on cryptographic antipatterns (pages 21–24) . Before large-scale PQC migration, institutions can implement no-regret actions: • Automate TLS certificate lifecycle management • Standardise TLS configurations (TLS 1.3 baseline) • Eliminate legacy cipher dependencies • Remove hard-coded credentials • Strengthen key management governance This approach aligns closely with supervisory expectations: #quantum_readiness must integrate into existing risk frameworks, asset lifecycle planning, and vendor coordination. For financial institutions, the message is clear: ❌Quantum safety is not a single migration event. ❌It is a prioritised, staged governance programme that integrates cryptography, procurement, architecture, and regulatory alignment. Full publication: Europol (2026), Prioritising Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration Activities in Financial Services Available via Europol Publications Office: https://lnkd.in/d2bgsVKm #PostQuantumCryptography #PQC #QuantumRisk #FinancialServices #CybersecurityGovernance #DigitalResilience #CryptoAgility #QuantumTransition #FinancialStability

Recorded Future released a new Executive Insights Report that examines quantum risk through a practical security and policy lens, focusing less on speculative timelines and more on the consequences unfolding today. One of the most important points is that quantum risk does not begin with the arrival of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer. In many respects, it has already started. “Harvest now, decrypt later” activity fundamentally changes how organizations should think about sensitive data. The compromise occurs at the point of collection, even if decryption remains years away. For governments, critical infrastructure operators, defense contractors, and firms handling long-lived intellectual property, the exposure horizon is measured in decades. That dynamic has broader implications than encryption alone. Public-key cryptography quietly underpins digital trust across modern economies. The eventual disruption of those trust anchors would challenge the integrity assumptions embedded across global digital infrastructure. What makes the issue significant is the mismatch between uncertainty and infrastructure permanence. There is still no definitive timeline for cryptographically relevant quantum computers, but many systems being deployed today will remain operational long enough to encounter them. That means current decisions are becoming future security liabilities or future resilience advantages depending on how organizations prepare. The policy environment is beginning to reflect this reality. Post-quantum cryptography is moving from research priority to governance expectation. Over time, this will likely evolve into a market differentiator. Organizations able to demonstrate cryptographic agility and credible migration planning may increasingly be viewed as lower-risk partners across government and critical infrastructure ecosystems. There is also an operational dimension that deserves more attention. The convergence of AI-enabled automation with quantum-enhanced optimization has the potential to compress defender response windows substantially. The organizations most exposed may not be those lacking sophisticated security tooling, but those carrying accumulated security debt, rigid architectures, and slow remediation cycles. The encouraging reality is that the core mitigation pathways are already visible. Cryptographic inventory, crypto-agility, supplier scrutiny, and prioritization of long-lived sensitive data are actionable steps that can be pursued now, well before quantum capabilities mature. In that sense, quantum preparedness is becoming less about predicting “Q-Day” and more about institutional adaptability. The organizations and governments that approach this transition early will likely experience it as a managed modernization effort. Those that delay may eventually confront it as a compressed operational and regulatory crisis.

Scientists have just solved a 40-year puzzle in unbreakable encryption, a milestone that could transform how we secure communication in the quantum era. For decades, the biggest challenge with “unbreakable” quantum encryption was its dependence on perfect hardware—single-photon emitters that, in practice, always leaked a bit of information. That small leak was enough to give attackers a theoretical edge, limiting the real-world viability of quantum-secure systems. Now, researchers have demonstrated a breakthrough using quantum dots and new cryptographic protocols that no longer require flawless devices. Instead, their approach tolerates imperfections, maintains true security, and allows encrypted quantum communication across much greater distances. This is more than a technical fix—it removes the last major barrier to scalable, real-world quantum encryption. It also shuts down potential “side-channel” attacks that targeted these hardware flaws, making future networks far more trustworthy. The implications are enormous: governments, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure providers may soon be able to deploy practical, unbreakable communication systems once thought confined to labs. Experts are calling it a paradigm shift—one that could spark a wave of commercialization and startups racing to bring quantum-dot encryption to market. #QuantumEncryption #Cybersecurity #Innovation #QuantumTech #Cryptography #FutureOfSecurity

In our new paper published in Nature Portfolio Light: Science & Applications, entitled "𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻” We demonstrate the following breakthroughs 1-   𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 We generated the ultrafast squeezed light pulses through a nonlinear four-wave mixing process, producing some of the shortest quantum-synthesized light pulses to date. 2-   𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗗𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 By controlling and switching between amplitude and phase squeezing, the team revealed that quantum uncertainty is a dynamic, tunable property rather than a fixed limit, a breakthrough with far-reaching implications. 3-   𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘇-𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 To showcase the potential, we demonstrated a novel petahertz-scale secure quantum communication protocol. By encoding data directly onto ultrafast squeezed waveforms, the scheme provides multiple layers of protection against eavesdropping and could underpin the future of high-speed encrypted communication networks. Looks like in this International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, with great efforts from many groups, we see the birth of the new field of #𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀, Thanks for the excellent team effort from my colleagues Mohamed Sennary, Javier Rivera-Dean, Mohamed ElKabbash, Maciej Lewenstein from ICFO Vladimir Pervak from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics https://lnkd.in/gWG2-vep Macij and Pervek.