Why People Are Worried About Quantum Computers and Online Security
You might have heard about quantum computers and how they could break the codes that keep our online information safe. That sounds scary, but let’s break it down so it makes sense and is less overwhelming.
First, What Is Cryptography?
Cryptography is just a fancy word for “codes that protect your data.” It’s what keeps your WiFi, bank info, and online messages safe from hackers. Every time you buy something online or send a secure message, cryptography is helping keep it private.
There are two main kinds of cryptography:
- Symmetric cryptography – this is the kind we use most often. It’s like a secret code where both sides (you and the website or app) use the same key to lock and unlock messages.
- Public key cryptography – this is used to set up a secure connection between two people or systems. It’s a bit more complicated and uses one key to lock and a different one to unlock. This includes things like RSA, which is an old but still common system.
So What’s the Problem?
Right now, it would take regular computers hundreds or even thousands of years to break these codes. But quantum computers are different. They use completely new types of technology that are super powerful in certain ways. One study just came out saying that with a powerful enough quantum computer, it might be way easier to break RSA codes than we thought.
Before, experts thought you’d need a machine with about 20 million quantum bits (called qubits) to crack RSA in 8 hours. Now they’re saying it could be done with only 1 million. That’s still a lot, but it’s a lot less than we expected.
Are Quantum Computers Ready Yet?
No. Not even close.
Right now, quantum computers exist but they’re very limited. Even the best ones only have around 1,000 qubits, and they make lots of mistakes. So we’re still far away from building a machine that could actually break today’s security systems.
Also, scientists still don’t agree on when this will happen. Some think it might be in 10 to 20 years, or even longer. Others think it might never happen at all. So there’s a lot of uncertainty.
Should We Be Worried?
We shouldn’t panic, but we do need to be prepared. Even if it takes 20 years to build a powerful quantum computer, some of the stuff we’re protecting today (like government secrets or financial data) will still need to be secure in 20 years.
The good news is that we’re not starting from scratch. Experts and researchers have already come up with new kinds of cryptography that are designed to be safe from quantum computers. This is called post-quantum cryptography.
The United States government (specifically NIST, a group that creates tech standards) started working on this in 2016. In 2024, they picked a few new tools and methods that can replace the ones quantum computers might break.
What Happens Next?
If you run a big organization, like a bank or a power company, now’s the time to start planning. The UK’s cybersecurity agency suggested a timeline that goes like this:
- By 2028, companies should know what cryptography they’re using and make a plan to upgrade it.
- By 2035, they should have finished switching over to the new, quantum-safe systems.
For the rest of us (regular people), we don’t need to do anything right now. As new tools and upgrades become available, your web browser, your phone, and your apps will get updated automatically. Just make sure you always install security updates when your phone or computer asks.
Bottom Line
Quantum computers could one day break some of the codes we use to stay safe online. But that day is probably still many years away. And experts are already working on new systems to stay ahead of the problem.
So while it’s smart to be prepared, there’s no need to worry right now. The people building the internet’s security are taking it seriously, and by the time quantum computers are strong enough to be a real threat, the internet will likely be ready for them.