The advent of quantum computing could easily compromise our personal data, even when protected by strong encryption or a VPN. Here's how.
According to a study by ExpressVPN, data encryption as we know it could soon face a major danger: quantum computing.
Encryption, a method used since Antiquity
Encrypted messages have always been used to transmit sensitive information. For example, the Spartans used the scytale, a wooden stick, to read or write encrypted messages. In ancient Rome, Caesar's code enabled the emperor to encrypt his correspondence. And let's not forget the telegraph, the Enigma machine or the famous Voynich manuscript, whose mystery remains unsolved to this day.
In today's digital age, it's VPNs that keep us safe. As a reminder, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) acts like a tunnel, guaranteeing secure, private Internet browsing and encryption of personal data. However, quantum computers may well be able to decode them.
Quantum computing, a very real risk for our personal data
With unprecedented computing power, quantum computers could compromise our current encryption methods.
In a conventional computer, calculations are made in bits, codes with 0s and 1s. A quantum computer, on the other hand, uses qubits, i.e. 0s, 1s and intermediate values. Indeed, according to the foundations of quantum physics, a particle that cannot be observed can be in several places and several states at once: this is known as "superposition of states". This makes calculations much faster, as 0s and 1s are superimposed in qubits.
Researchers are now working on " quantum cryptography", which exploits the principles of quantum mechanics rather than mathematics, as in classical cryptography.
However, in the face of danger, experts want to anticipate and go further. They are also seeking to develop "post-quantum" cryptographic algorithms. These are intended to protect sensitive data against attacks from quantum computers.
