ETSI Launches New Quantum-Safe Encryption Standard Covercrypt

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has launched a new post-quantum security standard, known as Efficient Quantum-Safe Hybrid Key Exchanges with Hidden Access Policies (ETSI TS 104 015), aimed at safeguarding critical data against both current and future quantum computing threats. This standard introduces a hybrid encryption system called Covercrypt, which uses user attributes to lock session keys, ensuring that only authorized users can access sensitive information. The system is designed for efficiency, allowing encapsulation and decapsulation of keys in just a few hundred microseconds, and is compatible with existing security infrastructures. ETSI emphasizes the importance of this standard as a significant step towards post-quantum cryptography, empowering organizations to protect their data for the coming decades. The initiative reflects a broader commitment to advance security measures in light of emerging technological threats. Overall, the new standard is expected to facilitate a smoother transition to quantum-safe cryptography across various sectors.