Quantum computing technologies may soon provide protection from “mega-hacks” that expose huge amounts of sensitive information, like credit card numbers, health records, and high-value intellectual property. These costly cyber attacks put pressure on military, governments, institutions, and businesses to develop new ways to keep data secure during transmission.
This article explains what quantum computing is and how it is reshaping the data security landscape. Quantum entanglement, super-positioning, and quantum key distribution (QKD) are also reviewed in order to show how quantum information science can be used to create ultra-safe networks.
What is quantum computing?
Quantum information science applies the rules of quantum physics to process data. Quantum computing uses nano-scale components and temperatures near negative five-hundred degrees Fahrenheit. The science is still theoretical as far as anyone is being told. IBM, Microsoft, Google, and other global entities are all dedicating much R&D to this field. If scientists are able to harness the full power of quantum computing, it can be used to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.
With quantum computing, it would only take hours or days to find solutions to problems that would currently take billions of years using existing technologies. That how powerful quantum computing is compared to today’s classical computers. In the near future, quantum computers may be used to facilitate novel discoveries on energy, healthcare, smart fabrics, environmental systems, and even the origin of the universe.
Quantum computing operates on “qubits” (quantum bits), which are the quantum equivalents of traditional bits. Classical bits can hold only a single binary value: a 1 or a 0. However, a qubit assumes a state of “superposition”, which means that it can hold both a 1 and a 0 value simultaneously. When many qubits act together, they are able to perform exponentially more computations that classical bit-based computing. That’s what makes a quantum computer so much faster than a traditional computer.
Researchers are examining how new quantum computing systems can provide unhackable data transference networks. However, the largest challenge they are facing is achieving data security with ever-changing quantum key distribution.
Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Quantum Entanglement
Quantum computing technologies use quantum key distribution, quantum entanglement, and qubit super-positioning to represent information instead of the electrical bits used in classical computer science. This allows quantum computers to perform complex computations much faster than conventional computers.
Quantum key distribution refers to the constant exchange of encryption keys that are generated with quantum technology. These ongoing changes occur between two or more receivers and are sent from a central data center.
QKD allows scientists to generate ultra-secure keys so that secret information can be securely transmitted from one location to another. It guarantees the security of data transfers where classical cryptography systems cannot. Generating the keys depends on a constant source of entangled photons, which are created in pairs by passing laser light through a crystal.
The entangled photons exist in a state of “superposition”, meaning that they assume all possible states at the same time. Although it makes no intuitive sense, it means that a particle can be in two different places at the same time. However, once a particle is measured at any moment in time, it loses its superposition and assumes a singular value.
Science Daily defines quantum entanglement as “a quantum mechanical phenomenon in which the quantum states of two or more objects have to be described with reference to each other, even though the individual objects may be spatially separated.”
Quantum entanglement is considered to be a difficult concept to grasp, even among the physicists who study and practice it. However, once it is understood, it opens up a deeper understanding of quantum theory in general.
QKD technologies have not been commercially deployed yet because they are not currently compatible with existing network architecture, which is largely dependent on fiber optic cables. Researchers are currently exploring how quantum key distribution technologies can be used to teleport secure information across free space from a central transmission facility to remote receivers.
Quantum computing technologies are fringing now in 2019 but are expected to continue to accelerate. Some experts predict a massive deployment spike by 2024.
Researchers from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the University of Vienna are exploring how to increase the information storage capacities of existing quantum systems. Increasing the number of entangled photons increases the complexity of the entire system. They recently entangled three photons for the first time. 3-photon entanglement allows the researchers to better understand the behaviors and nuances of complex quantum systems, which could have a strong effect on the development of future technologies, particularly quantum teleportation.
The United States, Russia, China, and other countries are racing to be the first to deploy large scale networks that are able to predictably distribute entangled photons. It’s a huge engineering and scientific challenge that will take several more years, at least. One of the main challenges is creating feasible and sustainable ways to produce large amounts of entangled photons on demand. Then, the entanglement has to be maintained while the photons are being transmitted over great distances.
What sounds like science fiction today will be emerging on a massive scale soon. And this brings up the issue of maintaining data security of today’s computing systems. How can data be kept safe and secure while hackers continue learning these same quantum computing techniques?
Quantum Computing and Data Security
As quantum computing technologies promise hugely increased computing power, they also promise landmark advancements in data security. Quantum computing can be used to notice and deflect cyber attacks before they are able to cause any damage. Today’s sensitive electronic information is normally encrypted, and then, transferred across fiber optic channels. A public digital key is sent along with the data so that the encryption can be undone and the receiver can access the information.
Today’s data and keys are sent in the form of optical or electrical impulses that represent binary bits (1’s and 0’s). Savvy hackers understand the binary code very well and can intercept and decipher bits in transit without ever being detected. Quantum communication utilizes the rules of quantum physics to provide data security.
Data is transferred in the form of paired and entangled photons alo
ng optical cable channels. In states of superposition, the qubits take on multiple combinations of 0s and 1s at the same time. From a data security point-of-view, hackers are unable to tamper with the transmissions without obviously showing their actions. Qubits are very fragile and will “collapse” if tampered with, meaning they will lose their superpositioning and read as either a 1 or a 0.
Keeping Your Data Secure in a Quantum World
Some businesses are concerned about data security as novel quantum computing technologies continue to emerge. Certainly, hackers are doing their best to learn this amazing new field that same way that governments are. IBM advises the following 4 steps to keep your secret information secure in the face of developing quantum cryptography technologies.
Embrace quantum technologies early and hire a quantum cybersecurity team for your organization.
Assess your organization’s security exposure to determine where quantum cybersecurity measures are most needed.
Stay up-to-date on modern advancements in quantum data security solutions.
Deploy quantum encryption and other quantum-safe solutions as soon as they become available.
Quantum data security technologies are effective because they utilize two very well known properties of quantum physics: super-positioning and entanglement. Quantum entanglement allows for message receivers to share an identical ciphering key. If an outside party attempts to intercept the data as it is in transit, the symmetry of the entangled photons pairs would be broken. This would make it instantly apparent that a cyber attack was attempted and further security measures would then be employed to protect the data before any harm is done.
Today’s public-key encryption technologies are still sufficient to ward off the majority of cyber attacks. In most cases, cyber attacks today happen to Internet users who simply fail to protect their data properly. They leave themselves open to attack in public places and often have their sensitive data intercepted. However, quantum computing and cyber security are about to change everything.
For now, there’s still plenty of time to upgrade your algorithms with quantum-safe encryption technologies. This will provide the current maximum amount of protection from quantum-savvy hackers.
Sources
The Verge – Quantum computing explained in less than two minutes
Australian Academy of Science – Quantum Computers Explained – Limits of Human Technology
TED – Quantum computing explained in 10 minutes | Shohini Ghose
Microsoft – What is quantum computing?
IBM – Cybersecurity today for the quantum era of tomorrow
Network World – Quantum computing will break your encryption in a few years
Data Connectors – EXPLAINER: WHAT IS QUANTUM COMMUNICATION?
Science Daily – Quantum entanglement
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