Story perspectives

Google Enhances HTTPS Security with Post-Quantum Cryptography

3/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Google plans to implement post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and Merkle Tree Certificates (MTCs) to secure HTTPS while preserving usability.
MTCs condense verification data to about 700 bytes, enabling efficient verification.
Chrome has adopted this method, and Cloudflare is testing performance with 1,000 certificates.
The Internet Engineering Task Force is coordinating standards through a new working group to protect web users without compromising browser performance or endpoint security.

1 of 1

Story summary

Google plans to implement post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and Merkle Tree Certificates (MTCs) to secure HTTPS while preserving usability.
MTCs condense verification data to about 700 bytes, enabling efficient verification.
Chrome has adopted this method, and Cloudflare is testing performance with 1,000 certificates.
The Internet Engineering Task Force is coordinating standards through a new working group to protect web users without compromising browser performance or endpoint security.