Chinese Announce: "We Have Started the Quantum Apocalypse"

The possible future in which all currently used encryption systems may become ineffective is called the 'quantum apocalypse.'. Chinese researchers at Shanghai University have claimed to be making progress towards breaking military-grade encryption with the help of a quantum computer.

In a Chinese-language paper published late last month in the scientific journal Chinese Journal of Computers, researchers claimed to have successfully used one of Canadian IT firm D-Wave's off-the-shelf computers to attack widely used cryptography algorithms known as Substitution-Permutation Networks (SPN).

According to Euronews, SPNs are used in systems tasked with protecting highly sensitive institutions, including the military and banks. If the researchers' claims are proven true, institutions may be forced to reconsider their cybersecurity measures.

SYSTEMS MAY BE DESTROYED

Experts have long warned that quantum computers, which operate very differently from traditional computers, could soon overthrow encryption standards used to protect highly confidential information.

Recent research also shows that technology is making progress towards such a possibility.

Commentators are calling this possible future the "quantum apocalypse," in which all currently used encryption systems may be rendered ineffective.

The new paper by Chinese researchers could also be the first example of a real quantum computer posing a serious threat to more than one full-scale SPN in use today, The South China Morning Post reported.

On the other hand, some experts who reviewed the article said that the details of the techniques used to break SPNs were left vague.

It is also stated that the quantum-supported attack described in the article was implemented against an encryption key much shorter than those generally used in the real world.

Still, some commentators are concerned that this could theoretically be seen as the beginning of a quantum apocalypse. The fact that a readily available quantum system has been used to develop a viable attack angle against classical encryption furthers the argument for the need to rethink how data is protected.”