Zixt: Harnessing Kyber for Post-Quantum Secure Messaging
Zixt employs Kyber1024, a post-quantum key encapsulation mechanism (KEM), to ensure that your messages remain secure against both current and future threats, including those posed by quantum computers.
What is Kyber?
Kyber is a lattice-based cryptographic algorithm standardized by NIST as ML-KEM (FIPS 203), designed to resist attacks from quantum computers that could compromise traditional encryption methods like RSA or ECC. It provides robust key encapsulation, allowing secure exchange of symmetric encryption keys with Level 5 security—comparable to AES-256 in strength.
The project page for Kyber is at https://pq-crystals.org/kyber/
How does Zixt Chat use Kyber?
We’re glad you asked!!
Ephemeral Key Generation
For each message or file attachment, Zixt generates a unique Kyber1024 key pair. This perfect forward secrecy (PFS)approach ensures that even if a private key is compromised in the future, past communications remain secure.
Key Encapsulation
When you send a message, Kyber1024 encapsulates a shared secret (used to derive an AES-256-GCM key) with the recipient’s public key. This creates a ciphertext that only the recipient can decrypt using their private key, guaranteeing that only intended recipients can access the message content.
Secure Message Encryption
The shared secret derived from Kyber is used to encrypt your message or file with AES-256-GCM, a symmetric encryption standard known for its speed and security. This ensures confidentiality and integrity, protecting against tampering and eavesdropping.
Multi-User Threads
In group threads, Zixt applies Kyber1024 individually for each participant, encrypting the message or file with a unique key for every user. This maintains privacy even in multi-user conversations, with each participant decrypting their copy using their private key.
Blockchain Integration
Every encrypted message, including its Kyber ciphertext, is logged on our proprietary blockchain ledger. This ensures an immutable record of communications while preserving encryption, as the blockchain stores only the encrypted data, not the plaintext.
Why Kyber matters
- Quantum Resistance: Unlike traditional algorithms, Kyber is designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, ensuring your data remains safe as technology evolves.
- Perfect Forward Secrecy: By using ephemeral keys, Zixt guarantees that a compromised key cannot decrypt past messages, providing long-term security.
- Efficiency: Kyber1024 balances robust security with performance, enabling fast encryption even for real-time messaging and file transfers.
- Standardized Security: As a NIST-standardized algorithm, Kyber has undergone rigorous scrutiny, giving you confidence in its reliability.
We are committed to privacy!
Zixt uses Kyber1024 to help protect messages and conversations with state-of-the-art, quantum-resistant encryption. Combined with SPHINCS+ Cryptographic Pseudonym authentication, SHA3-512 hashing, and secure blockchain ledger, Zixt delivers a messaging platform where your data is safe today and tomorrow.
Download Zixt today and start your own blockchain ledger or join an existing one, and communicate with peace of mind, knowing your messages are secured by the future of cryptography.