Quantum safe cryptography, also known as post quantum cryptography or quantum resistant cryptography, refers to cryptographic algorithms and protocols designed to resist attacks from quantum computers. Quantum computers have the potential to break many of the cryptographic systems currently in use, particularly those based on integer factorization and discrete logarithm problems, which form the basis for widely used encryption schemes such as RSA and ECC.
Quantum safe cryptography aims to develop encryption algorithms and cryptographic protocols that remain secure even against attacks by quantum computers. These algorithms are being researched and developed within the field of quantum resistant cryptography to ensure that data encrypted using these methods remains protected against the exponentially increased computing power that quantum computers may have in the future. This area of cryptography is crucial for ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information in a post quantum computing era.