Post-quantum cryptography for signing software on avionic systems

Avionics on modern aircraft are becoming complex computer systems supported by increasingly sophisticated software. These systems often require software upgrades that are performed during aircraft maintenance on the ground. In order to ensure the integrity of software upgrades and database updates, digital signature of the corresponding data files has been used as means to prevent cyber attacks that could replace the upgraded software with versions including malicious software or bad data. However, the potential advent of quantum computers present a threat to this code signing mechanism, as an attacker having access to a suitable quantum computer could fake these signatures.
Indeed, quantum computers introduce a new type of algorithm using the properties of quantum mechanics. It is believed that with enough quantum bits (qubit), a quantum computer using this algorithm would be able to crack most of the current public key signing and encryption algorithms used today.

Faculty Supervisor:

Gabriela Nicolescu

Student:

Partner:

Carillon Information Security

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Information and cultural industries; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Polytechnique Montréal

Program: