(Photo: Freepik)
Imagine a future where the best encryption and cybersecurity protections are rendered useless, allowing threat actors to access your bank accounts and private emails in mere seconds.
Though this sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi thriller, scientists predict that such a scenario could in fact become a reality within the next five to 10 years.
How? Quantum computing.
A blend of physics, mathematics, and computer science, quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways previously thought impossible. Despite its complexity, the word “quantum” has become somewhat of a MacGuffin in pop culture – a mysterious, all-powerful force that serves as a convenient plot device.
From Christopher Nolan’s movie Tenet, to games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty, quantum computing has been depicted as both a revolutionary breakthrough and a looming existential threat.
But beyond science fiction, what exactly is quantum computing really about? Is it truly the next big technological leap that everyone should keep an eye on?
What is quantum computing?
Often compared to artificial intelligence (AI) and fusion energy, quantum computing is expected to transform fields that demand immense computational power.
Now, it’s important to note that quantum computing won’t replace classical computing because the latter is more efficient and accessible for everyday tasks such as simple arithmetic problems. Quantum computers, however, are expected to be much better at solving specific complex problems.
Dr Chan Si Min, a scientist at HTX’s Disruptive Technologies Office (DTO), pointed out that quantum computers will also be far less accessible to the public than classical computers because they need to operate in highly controlled environments.
How controlled? Quantum computers need to run at cryogenic temperatures – nearly at absolute zero (−273.15°C) – because heat causes errors in the qubits.
“The preparation and initialisation of the qubits itself will take quite some time, during which the classical computer would have already solved the arithmetic problem,” she added.
To better understand quantum computing, let’s first look at traditional, or classical, computers. These machines process information and perform calculations using something referred to as “bits”, which manifest as either a 0 or a 1 – akin to flipping a switch on and off.
Quantum computers, on the other hand, operate using qubits (or quantum bits), which can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously due to a quantum property referred to as superposition. This allows quantum computers to perform multiple calculations at once, making them exponentially faster for certain types of problems.
(Image: HTX)
Think of it this way: imagine you’re solving a maze. A classical computer checks one path at a time, backtracking when it hits a dead end.
A quantum computer, on the other hand, explores all paths simultaneously. This means that the time needed to find a solution is significantly shorter.
Uses of quantum computing
Some real-world applications where quantum computing could prove invaluable are in the areas of:
- Drug discovery: Simulating molecular interactions to develop new medications faster and, potentially, more precisely.
- Logistics: Optimising routes for shipping and transportation to save time and resources.
- Materials science: Designing new materials for energy storage, electronics, and superconductivity.
- Financial modelling: Running risk analyses and investment strategies that are currently too complex for traditional computers to process efficiently.
Dr Wong Swee Liang, a senior scientist at DTO, believes that there is vast potential for the use of quantum computing in cybersecurity, biological threat detection, and resource optimisation in the realm of homeland security.
“Quantum computing can enhance cyber threat detection through anomaly spotting, strengthen encryption against future quantum attacks, and accelerate disease outbreak simulations for faster response,” shared Swee Liang.
“Additionally, it can help optimise resource allocation during crises, making homeland security operations more efficient and resilient.”
An inside look at IBM’s quantum computer. (Photo: IBM)
A looming threat
As with any emerging technology, quantum computing presents both opportunities and threats, especially in the realms of cybersecurity and cryptography.
Today, most of our digital security relies on encryption methods that classical computers struggle to break. Take for example RSA encryption, which is incredibly difficult to breach. Using a classical computer to attack an RSA encryption with brute force is certainly possible – it would just take BILLIONS of years to crack the encryption.
However, a quantum computer, paired with a quantum algorithm like Shor's Algorithm, would be able to crack RSA encryptions within days.
But there’s no need to start panicking – current quantum computers are simply not powerful enough to pose an immediate threat to encryption. That being said, it is only a matter of time before quantum computers can undermine current security protocols.
Quantum computing has the potential to upend current encryption methods, but such a scenario is highly unlikely at the moment. (Photo: Freepik)
Gartner predicts that quantum computing will render asymmetric cryptography unsafe by 2029, and fully breakable by 2034. Such a timeline is looking rather likely with recent breakthroughs like Microsoft’s Majorana 1 chip, which enhances practical quantum computing and brings us much closer towards fulfilling Gartner’s prediction.
DTO scientists Dr Wong Swee Liang (left) and Dr Chan Si Min. (Photo: HTX)
This is why there is now an urgent need to develop post-quantum cryptography that would thwart such a threat.
Here at HTX, scientists and researchers at DTO are already actively exploring both the opportunities and threats posed by quantum computing. For example, the team is currently investigating quantum- and physics-inspired algorithms for a myriad of practical applications, including in fraud detection and drug discovery.
A future to watch
Quantum computing is shaping up to be one of humanity’s greatest technological breakthroughs in the 21st century. Though it won’t replace traditional computers, its advancements will be key to tackling problems beyond our current computational reach.
Specifically in the context of public safety and security, the most pressing concern remains quantum computing’s broader implications on cybersecurity and cryptography. While quantum computers are not yet advanced enough to break modern encryption, there’s little doubt that they’re progressing rapidly.
Just like how a qubit can exist simultaneously as 0 and 1, quantum computing will likely be both a force for innovation and a tool for disruption.
“When the classical computer first became widely accessible, people feared it too. There’s always a tendency to fear what we don’t understand. It’s human nature,” said Si Min.
“All new technologies can be used for good or evil. But history has proven that mankind has always managed to devise safeguards against the latter. What’s more, change is the only constant in life. We shouldn’t fear it. We should embrace and understand it.”
