The Cryptographer Working to Protect Computations.
Yael Tauman Kalai is a theoretical computer scientist and cryptographer. Her breakthroughs in interactive proofs have had a major impact on everything from how cell phones communicate to a more secure blockchain.
She and her collaborators are updating their cryptographic schemes for a future in which quantum computers could threaten the security of today’s most commonly used cryptographic methods.
Kalai is Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research New England and an adjunct professor at MIT. She was awarded the 2022 ACM Prize in Computing.
As we move ever closer to a future of autonomous and intelligent machines, the security of our digital data and the privacy of our online interactions become ever more important. Cryptography is a key tool in ensuring our digital data remains secure and our private conversations remain private. One of the driving forces behind this work is the cryptographer, a highly-skilled professional tasked with designing and developing cryptographic algorithms.
The cryptographer is responsible for creating and maintaining secure cryptographic algorithms. This involves complex mathematical and computer science techniques, such as number theory, linear algebra, and algorithms. Cryptographers must also stay up-to-date on the latest cryptographic techniques and algorithms in order to ensure their work remains both secure and effective.
Cryptographers often work closely with other computer scientists to develop new cryptographic methods, such as homomorphic encryption, which allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without needing to decrypt it. This means that sensitive data can remain secure while still being used to facilitate important computations.
Another important area for cryptographers is in the development of secure communication protocols. This involves designing algorithms and protocols that allow two parties to communicate securely, such as through secure email or messaging applications. Cryptographers must also be aware of new threats and vulnerabilities in order to design protocols that are secure against them.
Finally, cryptographers are also responsible for designing and developing secure authentication systems, such as biometrics or two-factor authentication. This ensures that only authorized users can access secure systems, while also protecting the privacy of users.
The cryptographer is an essential part of the digital security landscape, and their work is vital in protecting our data and our privacy. As our reliance on digital technology grows, so too does the need for skilled cryptographers to ensure our data and our conversations remain secure.