Mark your calendars frens! Q-Day is commonly known as the point when a quantum computer will be able to crack current encryption algorithms in a matter of seconds, thereby exposing vast troves of sensitive data. Been a lot of hype around this topic and discussion as to when this day will arrive. Some say by 2025; others claim it's still 5-10 years away. The race is on though!
-Apologies in advance for the "experts" thing: Is Q-Day — The Day Quantum Computing Hacks Everything — Approaching?
Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity and quantum security experts estimate a high probability that Q-Day — the day quantum computing can break current security standards — will arrive over the next decade.
Government and intelligence agencies have begun urging organizations to update their algorithms and cryptographic models.
Meanwhile, “harvest now, decrypt later” poses a risk — where data that will still be relevant in a decade is breached now and waiting to be cracked.
The challenges to the post-quantum security era are numerous, and experts say the work needs to start now.
What if Q-Day already happened (Space Force) and WH's have had access to advanced decryption tech?..... Certainly gives meaning to "we have it all". And how would a WH operation go about exposing Truth without compromising the shadowy nature of their own existence or technology (Ghosts in the machine)? Would you coerce your adversaries and help them step into the light perhaps? Given nat'l security implications/ military tech advantages, I don't think we'll ever find out.
NSA fears quantum computing surprise: ‘If this black swan event happens, then we’re really screwed’
What's it mean for everyday country loving Americans?
In short. Any Modern Computer system outside of anything short of an Airgapped facility with no external data connections would no longer be considered secure. Regardless of the level of encryption put on it. And the anonymity of VPNs may very well be called into question.
I’m not overly familiar with VPNs. So I can’t reliably say. But given the expectations of what a Quantum Computer is believed capable of as far as decryption goes. It stands to reason it could trace IP addresses through VPNs.
And given what the believed capabilities of most anything “Quantum” is. It’s possible we could also see emergent capabilities that could possibly defeat an Air-gap.
Short of developing it ourselves and testing the limits of said technology. We won’t get get reliable information on what precisely it is or isn’t capable of.
Standard encryption algorithms used today to protect sensitive data transfers are thought to be safe from decryption. Some claim methods like RSA would take trillions of years to crack by brute force. However, a large enough quantum computer is theorized to be able to crack these same algorithms in a matter of hours. This effectively destroys any security protocols in cloud storage, digital verification certifications, etc... across a myriad of government and institutional entities. Best analogy I can think of is a "master key" that would work on any digital devices connected to the internet.
This is what the NSA have released to the public: https://code.nsa.gov/
What else have they got?