Link-s Security Technology

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Post-Quantum Secure · End-to-End Encrypted · Switchable Algorithms

Link-s adopts the industry-leading Post-Quantum Hybrid Encryption Architecture: It uses NIST-standardized Kyber-768 for key exchange to negotiate ephemeral session keys. The data encryption layer uses the efficient CTR stream cipher mode and supports both AES-256-CTR and SM4-CTR symmetric encryption algorithms, which can be flexibly switched according to deployment environments and compliance requirements.

The core logic follows the security principle of "Keys only at both ends, no plaintext in transit", completely upgrading traditional RSA/ECC schemes. It retains high-speed transmission performance while providing quantum attack resistance, meeting both international standards and Chinese national cryptography requirements.

Core Technical Features

✅ Post-Quantum Secure

Based on the Kyber-768 (NIST FIPS 203 standard) key exchange algorithm, it resists cracking attacks from existing and future quantum computers, mitigating the "harvest now, decrypt later" risk.

✅ Switchable Algorithms

The data encryption layer supports both AES-256-CTR (international standard, hardware-accelerated) and SM4-CTR (Chinese national cryptography standard), flexible via configuration for different compliance scenarios.

✅ End-to-End Security

Keys are generated and stored only at the two communicating ends, never transmitted in plaintext or stored persistently. Even if traffic is intercepted, no valid keys or plaintext data can be obtained.

✅ Compliant & Reliable

Complies with NIST post-quantum cryptography standards and natively supports Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS). Leakage of a single session key does not compromise other sessions, meeting high-security scenario requirements.

Core Security Principles

Keys only at both ends, no plaintext in transit

Keys generated and retained solely at endpoints, no plaintext transmission

Keys never stored persistently, destroyed immediately after session

Server cannot decrypt transmitted content

Compromise of one session key does not affect other sessions

Encryption Technology Details

🔐 Kyber-768 Post-Quantum Key Exchange

Kyber is the official post-quantum cryptography standard selected by NIST (FIPS 203, also known as ML-KEM), belonging to the lattice-based cryptography system. Link-s uses the Kyber-768 parameter set, providing security strength equivalent to AES-192, maintaining reliable key exchange security even in the quantum computing era.

Kyber-768 NIST FIPS 203 Quantum-Resistant

Traditional RSA/ECC becomes vulnerable to quantum computers. Kyber-768 is based on lattice problems, unbreakable by any known quantum algorithms in feasible time. Key negotiation requires no pre-shared keys and natively supports forward secrecy.

⚡ AES-256-CTR / SM4-CTR Stream Encryption (Switchable)

Link-s uses CTR (Counter) stream cipher mode at the data encryption layer, enabling streaming processing — encrypting during transmission and decrypting upon reception without waiting for complete files, greatly improving large-file transfer efficiency.

Available Algorithms: AES-256-CTR SM4-CTR

🏗️ Hybrid Encryption Architecture

Link-s adopts a Post-Quantum Hybrid Encryption Architecture:

This design ensures post-quantum security for key exchange while maximizing the high-performance advantages of symmetric encryption (AES hardware acceleration / SM4 compliance), balancing international standards and Chinese compliance via switchable algorithms.

End-to-End Security Architecture

Key Lifecycle Management

  • Generation: Keys generated only at sender and receiver, server not involved in key generation
  • Exchange: Secure exchange via Kyber-768 post-quantum key encapsulation, no pre-shared keys required
  • Usage: Keys exist only in endpoint memory for encryption/decryption of the current session
  • Destruction: Keys immediately cleared from memory after session ends, leaving no trace

Server Zero-Knowledge: Signaling servers only handle connection negotiation and session management, with no access to key materials. Relay servers forward encrypted data streams across networks and cannot decrypt content. Only communicating parties can decrypt data across the entire transmission chain.

Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS)

Link-s natively supports Perfect Forward Secrecy. Each transfer session generates a brand-new ephemeral key pair, independent of each other. Even if one session key is compromised, it does not affect the security of other sessions or enable decryption of historical transmission content.

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