Britain has 10 years to prepare for encryption-breaking quantum cyberattacks

[chushpan]

As if cyberattacks weren’t enough of a headache, the UK’s Cyber Security Agency has called on organisations to secure their systems against quantum hackers by 2035.

Strengthening your digital defences is always a good idea. Especially if attackers are well-versed in cyberattacks using quantum technologies that haven’t yet emerged but could soon, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has warned in new guidance.

According to the NCSC, large organisations and operators of critical national infrastructure, such as energy and transport providers, should implement “post-quantum cryptography” (PQC) to prevent quantum technologies from being used to hack their systems.

🗞 The guidance outlines a three-stage timetable for organisations to adopt quantum-resistant encryption methods by 2035. The NCSC said: “Current encryption standards used to protect banking transactions, secure communications and other sensitive data are vulnerable to the power of quantum computers”.

These encryption methods rely on mathematical problems that are difficult for current-generation computers to solve. However, quantum computers can solve them much faster, meaning current encryption methods will be insecure.