Encryption meet Quantum
Encryption is the foundation of modern-day communication, and it is the process of encoding information so that only authorized individuals can access it. The importance of encryption cannot be overstated, as it helps protect sensitive information from cybercriminals, hackers, and other unauthorized individuals.​
However, as technology continues to evolve, so do the threats posed by malicious actors seeking to breach encryption. The rise of quantum computing is one such threat that has the potential to break current standards of military-grade encryption.
Quantum: Qubits, Shor, Grover and Entanglement
Classical computers think in bits — 0s or 1s.
Quantum computers think in qubits — which can be 0 and 1 at once, enabling exponential parallel processing.
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Shor’s Algorithm: breaks RSA and ECC by factoring numbers exponentially faster.
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Grover’s Algorithm: halves the strength of symmetric encryption like AES-256.
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Entanglement: links qubits so they act as one, multiplying power.
Quantum & QUBITS
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Quantum computing is a new form of computing that relies on quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously.
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Unlike traditional computing, which uses binary digits (bits) that can only exist in two states (0 or 1), qubits can exist in multiple states simultaneously, making quantum computing much faster and more powerful than traditional computing.
Today’s most advanced quantum processors have over 1,000 qubits. It won’t take long before they reach the millions needed to make traditional encryption obsolete.
1,000 Qubits
Quantum & Shor's Algorithm
Quantum computers use qubits that can be in superpositions and become entangled. Those properties let quantum algorithms solve some problems exponentially faster than classical algorithms. Most relevant for everyday security: Shor’s algorithm would let a sufficiently large quantum computer factor large integers and compute discrete logarithms efficiently — which means it could break RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography.
“Shor’s algorithm … runs in polynomial time” — the theoretical ability that makes widely used public-key schemes vulnerable to a cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer.
Quantum Threat to Classical Security
The encryption used today (like RSA and ECC) was built to protect classical systems, but it relies on mathematical problems that quantum algorithms can easily solve. These non-quantum-ready algorithms secure most of our web, email, VPN, and digital signatures, but agencies like NIST have confirmed they must be replaced.
Harvest Now Decrypt Later Attacks
The threat of quantum computers necessitates immediate action. Attackers are using "Harvest Now Decrypt Later" strategies, collecting today's encrypted data for future quantum decryption. We need Quantum-Ready Encryption now. Solutions must prioritize efficiency over complexity to avoid slow and expensive technology.
QRE is Zero-Trust Encryption
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Quantum resilient encryption that won’t be broken
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Our algorithm is everlasting and eternal for long term security
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Data is now safe from adversaries that harvest today’s data
Regulators, Governments and Industries are planning
The G7, ENISA and other bodies have published guidance and roadmaps that treat quantum readiness as a current policy priority — meaning regulatory and compliance pressure will follow.
