As we mentioned in our article last August when NIST announced its first set of Post Quantum Cryptography Algorithms (PQC) for standardization, they wanted to see additional diversity in algorithms for the digital signatures beyond the three that were initially selected. In particular, they wanted to have additional algorithms available that were not based upon a structured lattice approach to provide alternatives in case weaknesses showed up. So, in September 2022 they called for proposals for a new series to evaluate additional PQC digital signatures and received 40 valid proposals by the submission deadline last June.
NIST has now whittled down this list to 14 algorithms. The list below shows the selected algorithms and the general classification of the algorithm type:
- CROSS; Code Based
- LESS; Code Based
- HAWK; Lattice Based
- QR-UOV; Multivariate Based
- MAYO; Multivariate Based
- SNOVA; Multivariate Based
- UOV; Multivariate Based
- Mirath (merger of MIRA/MiRitH); MPC-in-the-head Based
- MQOM; MPC-in-the-head Based
- PERK; MPC-in-the-head Based
- RYDE; MPC-in-the-head Based
- SDitH; MPC-in-the-head Based
- SQIsign; Isogeny Based
- FAEST; Symmetric Based
These algorithms will undergo a Round 2 evaluation for the next 12-18 months. The submitting teams will have the opportunity to make minor changes and submit additional documentation which will need to be submitted by January 17, 2025.
For more about this down selection, you can view an announcement provided by NIST here, a NIST internal report that describes the first round evaluation that NIST has just completed here, and a web page that provides additional information on each of the algorithms being evaluated during Round 2 here.
October 24, 2024
