Tag Archives: Security

Quantum safe cryptography – the big picture

Recently updated advice on quantum security technologies from the UK NCSC is bluntly sceptical about the promised benefits of quantum key distribution. This seems at odds with the scramble of governments around the world to promote the development of quantum networking technologies. Who is right? Future large scale quantum computers will one day bring many…

Quantum Blockchain

Quantum enhanced blockchain – sooner than you think?

Future quantum computers will ultimately force blockchain solutions to adopt strengthened quantum safe crypto protocols. Rationally there remains plenty of time to act, but proponents need to get their transition stories in place to avoid being caught out as we near peak quantum hype. More positively, the nascent blockchain industry also stands to be among…

Quantum Outlook

Quantum Outlook 2019

2018 has seen rising awareness of the future potential of quantum technology. 2019 is set to see quantum computing in particular at the peak of its hype cycle. Fact Based Insight believes that investors should take a wide view of the sector to find value in the short, medium and long term. The road to…

UK Flag

Quantum Technology for a Global Britain?

The UK Quantum Showcase demonstrates why others around the world are seeking to copy the UK’s quantum technology approach. It’s little surprise that the UK government is providing additional funding of £315m over the next 5 years. The 2018 UK National Quantum Technology Showcase took place in the prestigious QEII conference centre overlooking London’s Parliament…

Quantum software

The central role of quantum software

Quantum thought leader Scott Aaronson reminds us that the challenge of achieving quantum advantage depends not just on breakthrough quantum hardware but also on mastering revolutionary new quantum software. Scott Aaronson is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, and the founding director of its Quantum Information Center. An expert…

Quantum Safe Cryptography

The world is waking up to the need for quantum safe cryptography

A new quantum network has been launched in the UK and quantum initiatives are underway at telecom players SK Telecom, BT, Telefónica and Huawei – the world is starting to prepare in earnest for the advent of large scale quantum computers. Quantum computers promise to bring a remarkable range of benefits to industry and society. …

Mosc D+T

A current business threat from future quantum computers

Commercial transactions on the Internet and routine cyber security depend on the effectiveness of public key cryptography. Quantum computers will make existing standards obsolete. The impact of this starts now. Estimates vary on when a quantum computer powerful enough to realise this threat will be built. A range of dates from 8 to 20 years…

Bitcoin

Quantum attacks on Bitcoin and how to protect against them

Academics argue that Bitcoin could be subject to attack from quantum computers by 2027. There are plenty of ways to meet this challenge, but given recent experience how easy will the Bitcoin community find it to organise its response? A new paper from Aggarwal, Brennen, Lee et al. starts by underlining the strength of Bitcoin’s main…