The Quantum Apocalypse is a ‘real threat’.
Quantum computers work completely differently from computers developed in the last century. Faced with an incredibly complex and time-consuming problem, such as trying to decrypt billions of data, a normal computer would take years to decrypt those encryptions, if it can. But a future quantum computer could, in theory, do just that in seconds.
Such computers could solve a considerable number of problems for humanity. The UK government is investing in the National Center for Quantum Computing in Harwell, Oxfordshire, in hopes of revolutionizing research in the field. Several countries, including the US, China, Russia and the UK, are making an effort by investing large sums of money to develop these super-fast quantum computers in order to gain strategic advantage in the cyber realm.
However, there is also a downside. Every day, large amounts of encrypted data, including regular users, are collected and stored in databases. But they will be in danger the day data hackers’ quantum computers are strong enough to crack them.
“Everything we do on the internet today, from online shopping, to banking and social media interactions, is encrypted“says Harri Owen, strategic director of PostQuantum.”But if a functional quantum computer is created that will be able to crack that cryptography, it will instantly offer the ability for its developers to wipe out bank accounts, completely shut down government defense systems, Bitcoin wallets, and more. Quantum computers will render most of the existing encryption methods useless. They are a threat to our way of life” he added.
But authorities in several countries are already taking steps to prevent “the quantum apocalypse”. Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Intel and IBM are working on solutions, in addition to specialist companies such as Quantinuum and Post-Quantum. The quantum apocalypse will likely arrive in many years, or it will not unleash. But in the meantime, the researchers don’t want to waste time trying to predict a future where quantum computers easily decide today’s encryption standards.
Source: Futurism
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