If you’re not already familiar with these terms, don’t worry, we’ve got your back. We’ll break it down for you like a boss.

First things first: what is TLS? It stands for Transport Layer Security (or Secure Sockets Layer if you’re old school), and it’s the protocol that keeps all of our sensitive data safe when we browse the web or send emails. Basically, it encrypts everything so that no one can snoop on us.

Now key agreement. This is where things get really interesting (and a little bit nerdy). In traditional TLS, Alice and Bob exchange keys to encrypt their data. But with TLS 1.3, they don’t actually need to send those keys over the wire anymore instead, they use something called “pre-shared secrets” or PSKs for short.

Here’s how it works: let’s say Alice and Bob want to have a secret conversation. They both agree on a shared password (let’s call it “password123”). When Alice wants to send some data, she uses the password to generate a key that only Bob can decrypt. And when Bob receives the encrypted message, he uses his copy of the password to generate the same key and voila! They can communicate securely without ever sending their keys over the wire.

Now post-quantum authentication. This is where things get really exciting (and a little bit scary). You see, there are these newfangled computers called quantum computers that can break traditional encryption methods in seconds flat. And if they become widely available, all of our current security protocols will be obsolete.

Relax, it’s all good! There’s hope yet. Researchers have been working on post-quantum authentication schemes that use different mathematical principles to keep us safe from the quantum overlords. One such scheme is called “Lattice-Based Cryptography,” which uses lattices (a fancy math term for a grid) instead of traditional number theory.

3 key agreement and post-quantum authentication two exciting developments in the world of cryptography that will keep us safe from cyber threats both now and in the future. And if you’re still confused, just remember: with great power comes great responsibility (and a lot of math).