Beyond Classical Cryptography: A Systematic Review of Post-Quantum Hash-Based Signature Schemes, Security, and Optimizations

The emergence of quantum computing poses significant risks to the security of current cryptographic systems, particularly those reliant on classical algorithms vulnerable to quantum attacks. This systematic literature review adopts the PRISMA model to critically assess the development, methodologies, and security of post-quantum hash-based signature schemes as resilient alternatives. Through a methodical selection process from leading academic databases, we identify and analyze key contributions to the field within the last decade, focusing on the schemes' security proofs, enhanced performance, and efficiency metrics. Our analysis reveals a diverse landscape of hash-based signature schemes, their evolving security features against quantum threats, and their practical implementations in securing digital communications. The review highlights the importance of advancing these quantum-resistant technologies, discusses the challenges in their adoption, and outlines future directions for research and standardization efforts. The findings aim to provide a comprehensive resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers involved in the transition toward secure cryptographic practices in the quantum era.