Quantum computers - unprecedented innovation

Quantum computers have the potential to bring about unprecedented innovation across various fields, from pharmaceuticals research to the automobile industry. However, once quantum computing does become more widespread, it’s likely to undermine what we consider to the foundation of all infrastructure. Some have dubbed this the “Quantum Apocalypse”. This Apocalypse is set to change cryptography and render all our data protection encryption obsolete. The use of pulses of electricity to represent by 1s and 0s enables the computing power to exponentially increase. Quantum computing’s ability to solve two types of math problems: factoring large numbers and solving discrete logarithms (essentially solving the problem bx = a for x). Pretty much all internet security relies on this math to encrypt information or authenticate users in protocols such as Transport Layer Security. The possibility of quantum computation became relevant to cryptography in 1994, when Shor demonstrated efficient quantum algorithms for factoring and the computation of discrete logarithms, this introduction compromises the world's current encryption infrastructure. NIST launched a competition in 2016 to develop new standards for cryptography that will be more quantum-proof. The race is long, with the winners set to be announced in later this year in 2022, where the new standards of encryption will be set and announced to the community.