Tag Archives: quantum computing

Quantum computers need vastly fewer resources than thought to break vital encryption

The move, recently proposed by influential researcher Scott Aaronson, is a complete turnaround from the strict 90-day disclosure policies Google’s Project Zero pioneered two decades ago and an accepted norm that has driven security research for even longer. Other researchers are already criticizing the lack of details. “I think it’s alarmist to claim an immediate… Read More »

Google bumps up Q Day deadline to 2029, far sooner than previously thought

Google is dramatically shortening its readiness deadline for the arrival of Q Day, the point at which existing quantum computers can break public-key cryptography algorithms that secure decades’ worth of secrets belonging to militaries, banks, governments, and nearly every individual on earth. In a post published on Wednesday, Google said it is giving itself until… Read More »

Cybersecurity takes a big hit in new Trump executive order

The departments of Commerce, Treasury, Homeland Security and the National Institutes of Health were all compromised. A large roster of private companies—among them Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Deloitte, FireEye, and CrowdStrike—were also breached. In response, a Biden EO required the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to establish a “common form” for self-attestation that organizations selling critical… Read More »

Windows 11’s most important new feature is post-quantum cryptography. Here’s why.

Microsoft is updating Windows 11 with a set of new encryption algorithms that can withstand future attacks from quantum computers in a move aimed at jump-starting what’s likely to be the most formidable and important technology transition in modern history. Computers that are based on the physics of quantum mechanics don’t yet exist outside of… Read More »

The sad, bizarre tale of hype fanning fears modern cryptography was slain

PRESENT, GIFT64, and RECTANGLE: All three are lightweight block ciphers designed for use in “constrained” environments, such as those in embedded systems that require more speed and fewer computational resources than is possible using AES. All three are based on an SPN structure and are proposed academic designs. The related GIFT-128 is a component of… Read More »

As quantum computing threats loom, Microsoft updates its core crypto library

Getty Images reader comments 11 Microsoft has updated a key cryptographic library with two new encryption algorithms designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers. The updates were made last week to SymCrypt, a core cryptographic code library for handing cryptographic functions in Windows and Linux. The library, started in 2006, provides operations and algorithms developers… Read More »

iMessage gets a major makeover that puts it on equal footing with Signal

reader comments 43 iMessage is getting a major makeover that makes it among the two messaging apps most prepared to withstand the coming advent of quantum computing, largely at parity with Signal or arguably incrementally more hardened. On Wednesday, Apple said messages sent through iMessage will now be protected by two forms of end-to-end encryption… Read More »

The Signal Protocol used by 1+ billion people is getting a post-quantum makeover

Aurich Lawson | Getty Images reader comments 53 with The Signal Foundation, maker of the Signal Protocol that encrypts messages sent by more than a billion people, has rolled out an update designed to prepare for a very real prospect that’s never far from the thoughts of just about every security engineer on the planet:… Read More »

Google announces new algorithm that makes FIDO encryption safe from quantum computers

Getty Images reader comments 40 with The FIDO2 industry standard adopted five years ago provides the most secure known way to log in to websites because it doesn’t rely on passwords and has the most secure form of  built-in two-factor authentication. Like many existing security schemes today, though, FIDO faces an ominous if distant threat… Read More »

RSA’s demise from quantum attacks is very much exaggerated, expert says

reader comments 19 with 0 posters participating Share this story Three weeks ago, panic swept across some corners of the security world after researchers discovered a breakthrough that, at long last, put the cracking of the widely used RSA encryption scheme within reach by using quantum computing. Scientists and cryptographers have known for two decades… Read More »