Quantum computers could break today’s encryption. Washington needs to prepare now.
Lawmakers are urged to speed the U.S. post-quantum cryptography transition before quantum computers break current encryption.
An opinion piece urges Congress to treat the post-quantum cryptography transition as urgently as AI policy. Caltech spinout Oratomic reported that a cryptographically relevant quantum computer may need far fewer physical resources than earlier estimates, and Google has set 2029 as its transition target. The NSA is moving National Security Systems toward CNSA 2.0, while a June White House directive calls for post-quantum key establishment on high-value federal systems by the end of 2030 and digital signatures by the end of 2031. The article warns of harvest-now-decrypt-later collection and notes that China’s 15th Five-Year Plan and about $17.5 billion in state-backed funds include quantum technology.
- Oratomic research suggests fewer resources may break some encryption.
- Google targets its post-quantum cryptography transition for 2029.
- White House sets federal PQC deadlines of 2030 and 2031.
- Adversaries may steal ciphertext now and decrypt it later.
- China lists quantum technology in its 15th Five-Year Plan.
From the original article
5 min read at cyberscoop.com
As advances lower the barrier to breaking current encryption, Washington must move with equal urgency on post-quantum defenses. The post Quantum computers could break today’s encryption. Washington needs to prepare now.
By Greg Otto · cyberscoop.com
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