Preparing Blockchains for the Quantum Era: The Importance of PQC

1.    As we stand on the brink of a quantum computing revolution, the world of blockchain technology is evolving to address the imminent threats that quantum computers pose to cryptographic security. Recent releases from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — specifically FIPS 203, 204, and 205 — set the stage for a new generation of post-quantum secure blockchain systems. These new standards are crucial as they initiate the integration of quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques, ensuring that the integrity of blockchain networks remains intact even in the face of emerging quantum threats.

2.    One of the core innovations poised to redefine blockchain security is ML/KEM (Machine Learning Key Encapsulation and Decapsulation). By utilizing quantum-safe algorithms for key exchange process, ML/KEM will significantly enhance the encryption techniques used within blockchain networks. These advanced key encapsulation and decapsulation methods provide a more robust framework for securely exchanging cryptographic keys between users, which is critical for ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of transactions in a post-quantum world.

3.    Additionally, digital signatures will play a central role in fortifying user identity verification in blockchain ecosystems. With quantum-safe signature algorithms, digital signatures will not only protect the authenticity of transactions but will also serve as an essential line of defense against identity theft and fraudulent activities. These signatures will ensure that each user can prove their identity securely, even as quantum computers begin to challenge the current cryptographic norms.

4.    The induction of NIST’s new standards marks a pivotal moment in the blockchain industry, providing the foundational cryptographic frameworks that will help secure decentralized systems for the future. By incorporating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into blockchain architecture, the next generation of blockchains will be resistant to the powerful capabilities of quantum computers, paving the way for more secure and trustworthy decentralized networks in the quantum era.

5.    As blockchain continues to evolve, embracing these new cryptographic paradigms will be essential for safeguarding digital assets, securing user identities, and ensuring the future-proofing of decentralized networks. The integration of ML/KEM encapsulation and decapsulation, alongside quantum-resistant digital signatures, represents a major leap towards achieving this goal.

Navigating Post-Quantum Blockchain: Resilient Cryptography in Quantum Threats

Navigating Post-Quantum Blockchain: Resilient Cryptography in Quantum Threats from anupriti

Data Protection in a Connected World: Sovereignty and Cyber Security

Data Protection in a Connected World: Sovereignty and Cyber Security from anupriti

Question to Panel on Decentralised web publishing: G20 Conference on Crime and Security in the Age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse

 

Held on 13th-14th July 2023 at Gurugram, I got an opportunity to ask a question on "Decentralised content publishing on web" to the panel. This post brings out my question and the response by the panel members. Few pics below from the event:

Talk on Blockchain Intersection with Space Threats : 07 Jun 2023

 

Talk on Blockchain Intersection with Space Threats : Geointelligence Conference 2023: CYBER SECURITY"

Date 07 June 2023

CONVOCATION: AWARD OF DOCTORATE: 13 MAY 2023

Sharing few moments from my convocation vide below link held on 13 May 2023

Problem statement: Blockchain enabled cyber physical Systems on distributed storage

Thesis available at https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8443/jspui/handle/10603/451919

Guide : Dr Usha Batra

How to Install IPFS via Kubo on Ubuntu ?

Are you interested in learning how to install IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) via Kubo on Ubuntu? Then you've come to the right place!

In this blog post, I'll be sharing a step-by-step video tutorial that will guide you through the process of installing IPFS on an Ubuntu platform using Kubo. But first, let's take a brief look at what IPFS is and why you might want to use it.

IPFS is a distributed file system that aims to replace HTTP as the primary protocol for transferring data on the internet. It allows users to store and share files with others without relying on a central server, making it more secure and efficient than traditional file-sharing methods.

Now, let's dive into the installation process. To follow along with the tutorial, you'll need to have access to an Ubuntu platform and have Kubo installed. If you don't have Kubo installed, you can find the instructions for installing it here.

Step 1: Open a terminal window on your Ubuntu platform.

Step 2: Clone the IPFS repository by running the following command:

git clone https://github.com/ipfs/ipfs.git

Step 3: Navigate to the IPFS directory by running the following command:

cd ipfs

Step 4: Install IPFS via Kubo by running the following command:


kubectl apply -f ./deployment/ipfs-kubo.yml

And that's it! IPFS should now be installed on your Ubuntu platform via Kubo.

If you'd like to see the installation process in action, check out the video tutorial below which shows IPFS installation vide another way 

In conclusion, IPFS is a powerful tool that can revolutionize the way we share and store files online. By following these simple steps, you can easily install IPFS via Kubo on your Ubuntu platform and start exploring all that this innovative technology has to offer.

We hope you found this tutorial helpful. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. Happy installing!

My Phd Theses Titled "Blockchain enabled cyber physical Systems on distributed storage"

Shodhganga  is a reservoir and a digital repository of theses and dissertations submitted to universities in India for award of PhDs

https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8443/jspui/handle/10603/451919 my theses on Shodganga available online now...if anyone interested to see and comment or discuss

Sharing PDF document among multichain blockchain nodes with exclusive permissions

MULTICHAIN : Sharing encrypted data among nodes with Stream Confidentiality

Multichain : Appending Data to Blockchain with BINARYCACHE

 

Multichain : How to Connect-Receive-Send to a Blockchain node?

Continuing from the first video that was peculiar to basic instruction and installation of Multichain blockchain platform on Node A, this video moves further by connecting another node B. Node B is a independent node on the network in which the Multichain blockchain application is already installed exactly with the steps seen in the first video of Multichain playlist . The set of commands used in this videos are available as below:

Node A 

First command onwards 

multichain-util create nutsbolts 

multichaind nutsbolts -daemon 

 

 Node B multichaind nutsbolts@192.168.10.19:4265 (IP is as I have configured and you are free to choose ur configuration as u wish) and you will get a unique address starting with 1...... 

 

Node A multichain-cli nutsbolts grant 1... connect send receive (Here with you grant exclusive permission to Node B from Node A Node B 

 

multichaind nutsbolts -daemon (Now the blockchain network will be seen connected to) 

 

To get into interactive shell mode simply type this command at both the node terminals 

 

multichain-cli nutsbolts 

and then on either terminal use the following commands to get useful info of the created blockchain and network peers 

 

getinfo : See a list of all available commands: 

help : Show all permissions currently assigned: 

listpermissions : List the addresses in the wallet: 

listaddresses : For each node, get a list of connected peers: 

getpeerinfo: Get peer info of connected nodes

 

 

Multichain Blockchain Platform: Brief Introduction & Installation

This video gives a minimal few minutes introduction to the Multichain blockchain platform followed by quick installation on an Ubuntu 20.04 OS terminal. This is one of the easiest platforms to play with and understand in much better way the mechanics of blockchain. Primarily CLI based, this video installs the multichain with few commands.

 

Full expanded form of IOTA blockchain?

 Well.... I always used to look for the expanded form of IOTA blockchain but could never get the answer. But today I got the same finally vide a chat as produced below:

" it's not an acronym, but it stands for the smallest unit possible in the greek alphabet, as with IOTA also micropayments are possible, e.g. 0.000001 cent. IOTA is engineered completely different than a traditional blockchain, but the IOTA Foundation is one of the leading orgs for DLT research globally, pioneering the DAG (directed acyclic graph) since 2016. The DAG enables parallel access to the DLT. IOTA is designing a green, secure, feeless and highly scalable DLT, without the negative "issues" of blockchain. This also makes it very suitable for data-driven scenarios like DID. Organizations also do not need to buy/hold cryptocurrency"

Thanks Holger Kother...

Byzantine General - Proof of Work consensus and Mining in Bitcoin Blockchain

Analogical to a Byzantine general scenario wherein a number of armies intending to attack an enemy fort need to reach a consensus of day/time to attack, this video explains how Bitcoin nodes attain consensus vide the Proof-of-work method on the same lines. This video builds up from brief history from David Chaum and Adam Bach works onwards to Wei Dai works on Blind signatures, Hash Cash and Proof-of-Work to understand concept of nonce and consensus mechanism in a Bitcoin Blockchain. Further this video brings out the reward mechanics in the Bitcoin eco-system and also Mining methods and types

Hashes & Merkle Trees in Blockchain Mechanics

Hash Functions take input of any length and produce a fixed-length string which means that one can use hashes on something as small as a few characters or as large as an entire document or even files of huge sizes in GBs and above. 

On the other hand enabled by these hash functions, Merkle tree represent hash-based data structure that is a generalization of the hash list and represent structure in which each leaf node is a hash of a block of data, and each non-leaf node is a hash of its children. Both Hash functions and Merkle Trees are cardinal to the mechanics of any Blockchain. 

This video focuses on a simple explanation of understanding Hashes and Merkle Trees. Hash functions SHA-256 and RIPEMD-160 have been discussed in little detail being peculiar to Bitcoin blockchain.

Technology amalgamations inside Blockchain

Blockchain is an amalgamation of multiple technologies which have existed already in the IT ecosystem for last few decades. These include majorly cryptography, private-public keys, hashes, proof-of-work and other important technologies. This video post only identifies by name of what major technologies any blockchain is enabled on.

Where to start the "Learning BLOCKCHAIN" journey ?

Related to my earlier post https://anupriti.blogspot.com/2021/05/i-want-to-learn-blockchain-but-where-do.html this post focuses on the same presentation in a video talk version....

Recent Advances and Trends in Lightweight Cryptography for IoT Security and Blockchain Technologies at RGPV Bhopal 27th July 2021

An FDP was held peculiar to domain of  Lightweight Cryptography for IoT Security and Blockchain Technologies at RGPV Bhopal on 27th July 2021.The objective of this FDP was to bring together faculties, researchers, PG and UG students from across the country to learn about security challenges in Modern Cryptography, Blockchain & IoT. FDP aimed to demonstrate security challenges that Modern Cryptography, Blockchain, IoT systems pose, demands users to select a reliable and compatible architecture according to the business requirements to ensure secure flow of data and communication and also define the solution and future prospects related to these challenges. I gave a small 2 hour talk on the same which is available at the youtube link below

 CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW TO BE REDIRECTED TO THE YOUTUBE LINK

WHAT BLOCKCHAIN SIMPLY MEANS : A Short attempt

A short simple video to represent the mechanics of blockchain and ends with mentions of technologies running a Blockchain.