Cyber Insights 2023 | Quantum Computing and the Coming Cryptopocalypse

Kevin Townsend / Security Week / 2 February 2023

The cryptopocalypse is a looming event where quantum computers will be able to decrypt data encrypted with today’s encryption methods. This process is known as harvesting and decrypting later, which could lead to the loss of all PKI-encrypted data. It is important for organizations to be aware of this potential danger and take the necessary steps to prepare for it. In this article, we discussed the why, what, and how organizations can prepare for the cryptopocalypse. With proper preparation, organizations can protect their data in the future and save it from becoming vulnerable to adversaries.

If you’re struggling to understand the implications of this memo, don’t worry - an earlier White House memo from May 2021 sheds some light on the matter. The executive order “Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity” doesn’t mention quantum threats explicitly. Still, it does lay out various goals for high-level government agencies that hint at the potential dangers of quantum computing. So, while there’s nothing specifically about quantum computers in this most recent memo, it’s clear that those risks are very much on the radar of those in charge.