In brief
- IBM researchers are working with Signal and Threema to design messaging systems resistant to quantum attacks.
- Cryptographer Ethan Heilman says messaging could face a greater near-term quantum risk than Bitcoin.
- Advances in quantum computing are pushing developers to prepare for post-quantum cryptography.
Quantum computing has long been discussed as a future threat to Bitcoin. Now, researchers say the same technology could undermine encrypted messaging systems used by governments, journalists, and millions of users worldwide.
In a new report released on Monday, IBM described its work with communications developers from Signal and Threema to redesign messaging protocols for a future in which quantum computers may be able to break the encryption underlying secure communications.
“Breaking through this kind of encryption is practically impossible with even the most capable classical supercomputers, unless you have a spare billion years to kill. But a major computing revolution underway today may soon change that,” the researchers wrote.
While much has been written about the quantum threat to cryptocurrency, cryptography researcher Ethan Heilman said encrypted messaging platforms may face a more…
