While quantum computers have incredible potential to change the way we process information, they can also be used by our adversaries for nefarious means.
The US Department of the Defense’s primary concern is that a weaponized quantum computer could be used to break the encryption that protects sensitive government data and communications. In short, quantum computers will threaten our data and privacy to the extent that this will force the largest technology upgrade cycle in computer history.
Fortunately, the U.S. government has recognized this critical issue, and is now dealing with this threat. What they know that you don’t is that adversarial nation-states are spending tens of billions of dollars, and deploying thousands of computer scientists, PhDs and quantum programmers to build a quantum computer that will break all the world’s current encryption.
These same nation-states are harvesting data today at amazing rates via listening devices around the world in order to decrypt that data when they have quantum capability.
Additionally, Britain’s MI6 Chief Richard Moore says that “our adversaries are pouring money and ambition into mastering artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology because they know…this will give them leverage.”
Governments and commercial organizations that are responsible for securing sensitive data should not underestimate the threat of quantum computers. The science to support quantum computing is well-founded and quantum computers may be a single breakthrough away from cracking modern cryptography.