International Association
for Cryptologic Research

Are we there yet? Are we there yet? No, kids, the road to quantum-safety is long and sturdy. But let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time, science discovered a great threat to Cryptography World: The scalable quantum computer! Nobody had ever seen one, but everyone understood it would break the mechanisms used to secure Internet communication since times of yore (or the late 20th century, anyway). The greatest minds from all corners of the land were gathered to invent, implement, and test newer, stronger tools. They worked day and night, but alas, when smaller quantum computers already started to emerge, no end to their research was in sight. How could that be?

This paper provides a collection of carefully wrought, more or less cre- ative and more or less consistent metaphors to explain to audiences at all expertise levels the manifold challenges researchers and practitioners face in the ongoing quest for post-quantum migration.