The Dawn of Quantum Computers
By Sir Roderick Medallon, LHD
“The Art of War teaches us that ‘Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.’ Today, I stand before you to discuss a technological revolution that embodies this ancient wisdom in ways Sun Tzu could never have imagined: the advent of large-scale quantum computers.
Distinguished colleagues, honorable officials, imagine waking up to discover that every encrypted message, every secure transaction, every classified document protected by our current cryptographic systems has become as transparent as a window pane. This isn’t science fiction – it’s mathematics. And it’s closer than you think.
In 1994, Peter Shor demonstrated that quantum computers could factor large numbers exponentially faster than classical computers. To most, this seemed like an elegant mathematical curiosity. But those of us in cryptography understood immediately: this was the digital equivalent of splitting the atom.
Our current encryption systems – RSA, ECC, and others – rely on the fundamental difficulty of certain mathematical problems, particularly factoring large numbers and computing discrete logarithms. A 2048-bit RSA key, which would take our most powerful supercomputers millions of years to crack, could be broken by a sufficiently powerful quantum computer in hours.
As Archimedes once said, ‘Give me a lever long enough, and I shall move the world.’ Quantum computers are that lever, but they could move our world in ways we might not desire.
Let me be crystal clear: We are in a race against time. Google, IBM, and several nation-states are approaching what we call ‘quantum supremacy’ – the point at which quantum computers can solve problems beyond the reach of classical computers. While current quantum computers have limited qubits and high error rates, the trajectory of progress is exponential.
Consider these implications:
– Financial systems: Banking encryption becomes vulnerable
– National security: Classified communications could be decrypted
– Personal privacy: Medical records, private messages – all at risk
– Infrastructure: Power grids, water systems – their security protocols compromised
But like Plato’s pharmakon – both poison and cure – quantum computing also offers the solution. Quantum cryptography and post-quantum cryptographic algorithms can protect against these very threats. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is already evaluating post-quantum cryptographic candidates.
However, transitioning our global infrastructure to quantum-resistant encryption is a monumental task. As Aristotle noted, ‘Well begun is half done.’ But we haven’t even properly begun. We need:
- Immediate increased funding for quantum-resistant cryptography research
- International cooperation to develop quantum encryption standards
- A comprehensive infrastructure upgrade strategy
- Public-private partnerships to accelerate implementation
The cost of action is significant. The cost of inaction is catastrophic. As we speak, adversaries are likely storing encrypted data, waiting for quantum computers powerful enough to decrypt it – a strategy we call ‘harvest now, decrypt later.’
Ladies and gentlemen, we stand at a crossroads. Like the Manhattan Project, we need a concentrated effort of unprecedented scale. Unlike the Manhattan Project, this isn’t about creating a weapon – it’s about preventing our digital civilization from becoming suddenly transparent.
As Cicero warned, ‘In times of war, the law falls silent.’ We must act now, in times of peace, to prevent a quantum cryptographic crisis that could silence all our protections.
I leave you with this: The quantum computing revolution is inevitable. Whether it becomes our greatest vulnerability or our strongest defense depends on the decisions we make today.
Thank you.
Sir Roderick Medallon, LHD
I welcome your questions
JOIN US
Sign up to receive occasional news from Rod.