“‘The Dark Side' of Quantum Computers”

As the age of fully developed quantum computers approaches, researchers are quickly trying to develop post-quantum cryptographic methods as such advanced technology is expected to break current encryption algorithms, RSA and ECC. Current encryption algorithms are expected to become obsolete as a result of the quantum-mechanical properties contained by quantum computers to calculate at a much faster rate than current computers. Sensitive data that has been encrypted in the past and data that is being encrypted now will be exposed with the use of quantum computers by attackers, posing significant threats to the privacy of data within the government, health industry, financial industry, and more. This article further discusses the expected impacts of quantum computers, a research consortium by the name of PQCRYPTO that is dedicated to the development of new cryptographic techniques, and Shor’s algorithm. 

Science Daily reports “‘The Dark Side' of Quantum Computers”