VPNs evolve to counter quantum security risks

The debate around the timeline of quantum computing's impact is brewing.

- Vishal Mathur

NEW DELHI: While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang believes quantum computing may be about 15 years away, D-Wave System's CEO Alan Baratz insists it's ready for prime-time, citing Mastercard and NTT Docomo's use of their quantum computers for real-world operations. Regardless of the timeline, cybersecurity must adapt quickly to counter the looming threats, experts say.

The concern stems from quantum computing's rapid calculations and processing powers - these have applications ranging from drug discovery to artificial intelligence and financial models, but criminals can also exploit these capabilities to mount cyberattacks.

"One of the most insidious threats posed by quantum computing is the Store Now, Decrypt Later (SNDL) attack, a cryptographic technique that involves storing encrypted data for an extended period before decrypting it. Threat actors are already swiping up lots of encrypted information and stockpiling it until quantum computers can crack it open for them in the future," said Pete Membrey, chief engineering officer at ExpressVPN.

Virtual private network (VPN) companies are among those leading the way in countering these cybersecurity threats through 'post-quantum encryption'. This technology is designed to counter equally capable algorithms created to break current encryption standards.