Masters Thesis Presentation - Simona Culachi

Title: Securing Smartcard Authentication with Hybrid Classical/Post-Quantum Cryptography

Abstract:

Quantum computers are expected to affect the security of currently used public-key cryptographic schemes, such as RSA and elliptic curve cryptography. To address this problem, several post-quantum algorithms have been proposed and are currently being standardized. However, replacing existing cryptographic infrastructure with post-quantum alternatives is not straightforward due to compatibility and performance challenges. Hybrid schemes, which combine classical and post-quantum algorithms, have therefore been proposed as a transition mechanism. Their practical impact on constrained environments remains an open question.

This thesis evaluates the feasibility of integrating hybrid digital signatures into EMV payment card authentication. Classical and post-quantum signature algorithms are compared with respect to memory usage, communication requirements, computational cost and suitability for Java Card environments. In addition, different hybrid certificate structures are analyzed to identify the most suitable approach for constrained devices. Based on the results, a proof-of-concept hybrid authentication scheme is designed and evaluated in a smartcard environment. The evaluation focuses on the overhead introduced by the hybrid approach compared to a classical implementation in terms of memory consumption, communication and signing performance.

Supervisors: Prof. Fatih Turkmen, Dr. Ekin Ozman, Dr. Stefan van den Berg, Dr. Alessandro Amadori