The way we talk to bots matters even if they aren’t conscious - Psyche

The technical groundwork for a quantum-resistant internet is further along than the policy needed to build it. The IETF finalized the standard for encoding ML-DSA signatures within X.509 certificates in RFC 9881 in October 2025, yet as of this year the CA/Browser Forum has not approved their use in publicly trusted TLS certificates. This creates a clear timeline; organizations can begin building post-quantum certificate authorities now, but widespread adoption for secure browsing remains a future goal. Encryption, facing the immediate threat of “store now, decrypt later” attacks, prioritized key exchange solutions before signature updates. This discrepancy highlights a growing gap between the readiness of post-quantum cryptographic algorithms and the policy frameworks needed for their widespread deployment, a situation that could delay the transition to a quantum-resistant internet. NIST’s finalized standards, FIPS 204 for ML-DSA and FIPS 205 for SLH-DSA, published on August 13, 2024, define distinct approaches to quantum-resistant cryptography, each with its own performance characteristics and ideal use cases.

Here’s your NYT Strands hint for today, plus the spangram and all of today’s Strands answers for puzzle No. 959 on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Today’s Strands theme was tricky. It helps to be a runner. Read on for all the answers.