Encryption and Security 2023 Predictions, Watchlist

Lucas Ropek covers cybersecurity and privacy for Gizmodo. You can track its coverage hereand email story ideas and tips to lropek@gizmodo.com.

Best Story:

Concern about the (non-existent) powers of quantum computers has yet been invented) spurred one of the greatest cryptographic breakthroughs of the era: post-quantum encryption algorithms. Last year, the National Institute of Standards and Technology concluded a nearly decade-long competition to develop new algorithms to defend against quantum attacks. Despite experts, the algorithms are expected to be deployed more widely by federal agencies this year to guess It may be a decade before post-quantum cryptography begins to see truly active use.

What to expect:

• End-to-end encryption It was actually supposed to happen this year for Facebook Messenger and Instagram.
• FIDOA cryptographic standard claimed by Big Tech replace it password is planned to see a wider release. It uses a promised shake-up in platform and application security public key cryptography to authenticate web users as opposed to your secret “12345” password.
• Europe has ugly regulation demonstration no more encryption. EU lawmakers want to scan everyone’s messages so they know who “terrorists” and pedophiles are. Normal people don’t do it ask for it. Who will stand in their way?

Unconventional Wisdom:

you have to sorry For the signal. Meredith Whittaker, the new CEO of the popular E2E encrypted chat app, he said the platform is looking for a long-term financial strategy to keep the messenger, which has historically been free, running. Whittaker revealed that he was interested in her “optional donations,” is not a subscription service. Paying for something that’s technically free might sound bad, so let’s do a cost-benefit analysis here: If it’s between spending a few bucks every now and then to keep your conversations private, and leaving your data to twist in the wind. will you choose We don’t know what the future holds for Signal, but the bottom line is that it’s a good idea to support the platform, paid or not.

People to watch:

• Matthew Green – One of the best sources on encryption news. Green’s is a cryptographer and professor at Johns Hopkins University blog is a great source of information for those who want to stay up to date with technology.
• Meredith Whittaker – Signal’s new CEO is shaking things up at the privacy platform. He tweetshe blogsand he sometimes does interviews. It is best to pay attention to what he says.
• Peter Shore – As quantum encryption becomes more and more of a thing, one of the guys you want to know is Shor. Shor’s algorithm, a brilliant MIT professor, is considered one of the key mathematical pieces of the quantum puzzle.

Companies to watch:

• SandboxAQ – This startup, a spinoff from Google, is trying to provide security services in the “post-quantum” era.
• Vaulttree – This company provides homomorphic encryption through a software-as-a-service model. This is an increasingly popular form of encryption strengthen defenses Significantly.
• Alarm – Since its founding in 2014, it has been one of the most consistent defenders of personal privacy on the Internet. After Moxie Marlinspike stepped down last year and Whittaker took over, it has continued to be a platform that anyone who cares about privacy should care about.

Long term bet:

Elon Musk will be fine his promise To encrypt Twitter messages. Am I confident in this prediction? No, not at all. However, in between dumpster fire On post-Dorsey Twitter, Musk consistently did what he said he would do. Unfortunately, a lot of things turn out to be stupid… but encrypted messaging is an exception to this rule. We are also currently witnessing an end-to-end encryption arms race in Silicon Valley. E2EE iCloud backupsMeta’s alleged Messenger encryption plans and Google’s decision to introduce E2EE for Gmail. If Musk keeps the CEO role long enough, he will make it happen.