Q-Day Is Coming: Quantum Computers Will Decode National Secrets
Sabine Hossenfelder・2 minutes read
Q-Day is the day when quantum computers can crack current internet encryption protocols, posing a threat to data security by being able to decrypt encrypted data much faster. While estimates suggest breaking RSA encryption would require millions of physical qubits, some claims of reducing this number have been met with skepticism, leading to the emergence of companies like Quantum Defen5e and Quokka Quantum to address future threats posed by quantum computing.
Insights
- Quantum computers pose a significant threat to current encryption protocols like RSA, as they can factor large numbers into primes at an exponentially faster rate, potentially leading to the decryption of old data encrypted with these protocols.
- The claim of a Chinese team reducing the number of qubits needed to break RSA encryption to 372 has sparked skepticism within the scientific community, highlighting the challenges and uncertainties surrounding advancements in quantum computing and the need for rigorous verification of such claims.
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Recent questions
What is Q-Day?
Q-Day refers to the day when quantum computers can potentially crack current internet encryption protocols due to their ability to factor large numbers into primes much faster than traditional computers. This poses a threat to data encrypted with protocols like RSA.
How do encryption protocols like RSA work?
Encryption protocols like RSA rely on the complexity of factoring large numbers into primes, a process that is time-consuming for conventional computers but could be done rapidly by quantum computers. This complexity is what makes the encryption secure.
What is the estimated number of qubits needed to break RSA encryption?
Breaking RSA encryption is estimated to require around 10 million physical qubits, a number that surpasses the current capabilities of quantum computers. This high number of qubits poses a significant challenge for potential decryption.
What are some companies addressing the threats posed by quantum computing?
Companies like Quantum Defen5e and Quokka Quantum are emerging to address the future threats posed by quantum computing. They are developing solutions to mitigate the risks associated with the potential decryption of data encrypted with current protocols.
What is the controversy surrounding the "quokka puck" device?
The "quokka puck" is a device sold by Quokka Quantum that emulates a quantum computer. However, controversy surrounds this product due to concerns of misrepresentation, as it may not accurately represent the capabilities of a true quantum computer.
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Summary
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"Q-Day: Quantum Computers Threaten Internet Security"
- Q-Day is the day when quantum computers can crack current internet encryption protocols, based on the ability of quantum computers to factor large numbers into primes much faster than conventional computers.
- Encryption protocols like RSA rely on the difficulty of factoring large numbers into primes, a process that would take trillions of years on conventional computers but could be done within seconds by a large enough quantum computer.
- The threat of Q-Day lies in the potential decryption of old data encrypted with RSA and similar protocols, leading intelligence agencies to hoard encrypted data and seek access to quantum computers.
- Estimates suggest that breaking RSA encryption would require around 10 million physical qubits, a number far beyond the current capabilities of quantum computers.
- A Chinese team claimed to have reduced the number of qubits needed to break RSA to 372, but skepticism surrounds this claim as other groups were unable to reproduce the results.
- Companies like Quantum Defen5e and Quokka Quantum are emerging to address the future threats posed by quantum computing, with the latter selling a device called the "quokka puck" that emulates a quantum computer, sparking controversy due to misrepresentation.
