The looming quantum threat to our digital locks

Technology · Published 24 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Modern internet security relies on mathematical problems that are nearly impossible for today's computers to solve. However, the rise of fully fledged quantum computers threatens to shatter these foundations. We are now entering a transition toward post-quantum cryptography to secure our data against a future threat.

The vulnerability stems from specific algorithms that can be executed by quantum machines. For instance, Shor's algorithm (1994) demonstrated how quantum computers could solve discrete logarithms and factoring problems—the very pillars of modern public-key cryptosystems like RSA and those based on elliptic curves. Because these methods are so effective at breaking current codes, the era of fully fledged quantum computing poses a direct threat to existing internet security. The Beauregard circuit of 2003 specifically mapped out the qubit requirements for Shor's algorithm. Additionally, Grover’s algorithm from 1996 presents a different threat by providing a fast method for searching databases.

To counter this, researchers are developing post-quantum cryptography (PQC). This field focuses on creating systems that remain secure even against quantum attacks. Some established approaches include algebraic coding theory, which dates back to the McEliece cryptosystem in 1978, and other methods like isogenies or knapsack-type systems. These alternatives aim to provide a new layer of defense for digital signatures and key establishment. Researchers are also exploring hard homogeneous spaces and dihedral hidden subgroup problems as potential avenues for security. These diverse mathematical foundations ensure that the new systems do not rely on a single point of failure.

The transition is already underway. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has led a multi-year international competition involving academia, industry, and government to standardize these new methods. In August 2024, NIST released its first three principal PQC standards as Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Organizations are being urged to begin migrating their systems now, identifying vulnerable algorithms today to protect against machines that may be years or even decades away. NIST is currently creating extra standards to serve as backups or alternatives to the primary ones. They also manage the Cryptographic Module Validation Program to ensure all newly validated cryptography remains trustworthy for federal use.

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