We are introducing PQ3, a groundbreaking cryptographic protocol for iMessage that advances the state of the art of end-to-end secure messaging. With compromise-resilient encryption and extensive defenses against even highly sophisticated quantum attacks, PQ3 provides protocol protections that surpass those in all other widely deployed messaging apps.

Apple has announced PQ3, a significant cryptographic update for iMessage, providing Level 3 security with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) for both initial key establishment and ongoing message exchange. This protocol is designed to secure communications against quantum computing threats and has been formally verified for its robust security properties. PQ3 employs a hybrid design, combining current Elliptic Curve algorithms with new post-quantum algorithms, ensuring it’s never less safe than existing protocols. The rollout will begin with upcoming iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and watchOS updates, with iMessage conversations automatically upgrading to PQ3. This protocol represents a major advancement in securing end-to-end encrypted messaging at scale.

  • lokiEnglish
    3·
    9 months ago

    has been formally verified for its robust security properties.

    How do they formally verify these?

    • Kid@sh.itjust.worksOPM
      1·
      9 months ago

      From the article:

      This includes a team led by Professor David Basin, head of the Information Security Group at ETH Zürich and one of the inventors of Tamarin — a leading security protocol verification tool that was also used to evaluate PQ3 — as well as Professor Douglas Stebila from the University of Waterloo, who has performed extensive research on post-quantum security for internet protocols.

      There is a paper describing the tests.

      Not that this settle everything.