Digital Signatures and Quantum Computing

The legal framework of electronic signatures in the European Union is mainly based on the use of Public Key cryptography systems or asymmetric cryptography. This system, currently regulated by Regulation 910/2014 (eIDAS Regulation) appears to be quite safe under current technology but may be at huge risk with the developments of Quantum Computing. To better understand this we must start by considering digital signatures (and the characteristics of symmetric and asymmetric encryption) and further analyzing the threats of quantum computation for this system, the need of a post quantum cryptography and of long term validation preservation.