Broad Support for Quantum Computing, and Protection from This Technology
Works Cited
Pixabay
https://www.ibm.com/topics/quantum-computing
https://phys.org/news/2022-05-quantum-bit-qubit-breakthrough.html
On Wednesday, President Biden will be laying out initiatives to both support the development of quantum computing technology and to protect against it. In a world where quantum computing power will dwarf and overshadow existing computer systems, we need to anticipate and engineer systems to withstand these new computing monsters. Supercomputers cannot stave off the cyber-security threat that quantum computers pose, so we need to be ready to fund and resource new programs.
A quantum computer uses the principles of quantum entanglement to manipulate units called “qubits”. A qubit is a single sub-atomic particle, and is usually an electron. A qubit can be both a “0” and “1” at the same time, and these qubits are trapped in an inert gas to enhance their ability to remain as both a “0” and “1”. The principle of quantum entanglement allows multiple qubits to interact and store and process an immense amount of information. Instead of processing one calculation at a time at a high speed like supercomputers do, many calculations are undertaken at the same time, making problem solving much faster.
The National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee is designed to address the threat that quantum computers pose to national security. We need to upgrade our existing systems to handle the threat posed by this emerging technology. President Biden’s advisors understand the severity of this threat and what it means to face this cyber-security threat in real time.
Quantum computing is a massive step forward in technology, and subsequently it is a threat to national security. Quantum computers can operate millions of calculations in parallel that can break into existing systems and gain the user access to national secrets. It has been theorized that even cryptocurrency keys can be cracked using a quantum computer. The ability of quantum computer algorithms to use non-linear processes at the same time makes them more powerful than any supercomputer. Quantum computers use cooling systems with liquids cooled almost to absolute zero, superconductors and a number of qubits that are entangled together to process calculations. This setup outclasses existing systems, and is therefore a threat and an enabler of cyber security.
Companies including IBM and government agencies are working on quantum computers. It is inevitable that these computers will surpass current supercomputers and become a major security risk in cyberattacks aimed at national security, utilities and infrastructure and corporate secrets. Further funding of national safety budgets to adapt to this reality is essential and must grow with the technology. Creating a system of air gaps between the computer systems is essential, and cryptocurrency systems must adapt to this new reality as well. A network of quantum computers that can detect threats from other quantum computers and react to those threats is essential going forward.
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