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Why quantum computing threatens encryption
And why we must prepare now
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We must prepare for it now to protect the confidentiality of data that already exists today and remains sensitive in the future.”
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, March 31, 2021, source: Homeland Security
The quantum computer’s ability to crack modern cryptography puts the U.S. government uproar.
Even if today’s quantum computers don’t have the capacity, tomorrow’s devices will inevitably. And that’s a problem because what people want to keep secret today is already at risk. For example, an attacker can collect encrypted data today and crack it when the necessary quantum computing capacity becomes available.
For this reason, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published a roadmap to help organizations protect their data and systems and mitigate the risks associated with the advancement of quantum computing technology.
Typically, government agencies are not known for jumping on new technologies promptly. So it should be a wake-up call to recognize the signs of the times and not miss out on understanding this new technology.
