3 ms·
> The key is encrypted with pubkey. Of course. That's how all public key crypto works. It's entirely infeasible to encrypt large payloads with a public keypair
by knorker 11mo ago
> The key is encrypted with pubkey.
Of course. That's how all public key crypto works. It's entirely infeasible to encrypt large payloads with a public keypair directly.
But this means that the symmetric key is entirely vulnerable to quantum computers. All you have to do is decrypt it.
> so maybe going to 256 bits
No, that's symmetric crypto key lengths, which are not the vulnerability when public keys involved are not PQ.
- aborsy 11mo agoWhich is what I said.
- knorker 11mo agoWell, I'd say you left out all the important bits, to the point where your comment could easily be read as "it's the symmetric key that matters, even with public key". But whatever. Now I know. Both the choice of symmetric key length AND the choice of public key algorithms independent of each other make this format not PQ. Why anyone in their right mind would migrate to such algorithms in 2025 I have no idea, and especially coming from someone like Filippo it's baffling. Those already on PQ are better off staying. Those who are not should move to a PQ, not this.
- FiloSottile 11mo ago128 bits of symmetric keys are enough for post-quantum security. See https://words.filippo.io/post-quantum-age/ https://words.filippo.io/post-quantum-age/. The public key algorithm has been frustratingly blocked on the IETF and CFRG, which are taking more than 15 months since FIPS 203 to stabilize a simple hash-based hybrid combiner.
- knorker 11mo agoGlad to hear about 128bit. I still stand by that one should not migrate to vanilla `age` until the public key part is PQ, or one will need to do two migrations. The incremental improvement from going GPG to age seems pointless given the timelines. If PQ compliance is urgent, then sure, migrate to age+PQ plugins. Yes I share the frustration about how long it's taking, so in the mean time for PQ requirements I can't get into, I did for some installations need to migrate to a temporary pre-standard (but still holding up) PQ layer. And I'm itching to migrate to something standard (or at least de facto standard) when it comes. Frustrating, but understandable, that many people are making excuses that they are focusing on key exchange, not communication over time.