US and China increase efforts to develop quantum-resistant encryption amid cybersecurity concerns

The US and China are in a race to protect their secrets from the potential threat of quantum computers. Both countries are investing in efforts to safeguard their data from the potential cryptographic vulnerabilities that quantum computers could exploit. The US is working on new encryption standards, known as post-quantum cryptography, to make codes much harder to crack, even for a quantum computer. On the other hand, China is focusing on pioneering quantum communications networks, which are theoretically impossible to hack. This race is driven by the anticipation of ‘Q-day,’ the day when quantum computers could make current encryption methods obsolete, potentially leading to a significant impact on global military and economic security.

In February, a Canadian cybersecurity firm delivered a forecast to the US Department of Defense, warning that current encryption methods could be rendered useless as soon as 2025 due to the potential capabilities of quantum computers. Despite China’s apparent lead in official funding, some researchers believe that America remains the overall quantum leader, thanks to its private sector, government labs, university researchers, and collaborating allies

Why does this matter?

This pursuit of quantum-resistant encryption has sparked global collaborations among experts, underscoring the pressing need to strengthen cybersecurity measures against potential quantum-based threats. However, obstacles remain, including the intricate nature of implementing quantum-resistant encryption and the necessity for worldwide standards to ensure both compatibility and security.