Quantum Computing and the Future of Cyber Attacks: Preparing for the Next Digital Apocalypse

Written By Noel Bradford

Cyber criminals are already terrifying enough with their arsenal of phishing emails, ransomware attacks, and data breaches. But just when you thought you understood the threats facing your business, quantum computing arrives like a caffeinated gremlin ready to break everything you know about encryption. It’s the future of computing — but also the future of catastrophic cyber crime.

Right now, most online security depends on encryption, particularly algorithms like RSA, ECC, and AES. These algorithms are built on mathematical problems so complex that even the fastest supercomputers need thousands of years to crack them. This is the entire reason online banking, secure messaging, and government secrets stay, well, secret. But quantum computers play by different rules. They don’t just solve problems faster; they solve problems in entirely new ways.

Using the magical world of quantum mechanics, these computers can test millions of possible solutions simultaneously. What would take a classical computer centuries to solve, a sufficiently powerful quantum machine could manage in minutes. In practical terms, quantum computing could shred modern encryption like wet tissue paper.

This quantum threat is not a distant sci-fi plot. Nation states, cyber criminals, and even rogue tech enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the day quantum technology becomes commercially viable. When that happens, every encrypted email, every financial transaction, and every piece of sensitive data currently stored will become fair game.

If you’re imagining quantum hackers breaking into nuclear codes from a laptop in their basement, slow down. Quantum computers are still massively expensive, finicky machines requiring ultra-cold environments and a team of physicists to keep them running. But this doesn’t mean businesses can relax. Researchers are already working on quantum-resistant encryption, and companies need to start planning for a post-quantum future.

The first step is awareness. Many businesses have no idea what quantum computing is, let alone how it threatens their security. Leadership teams need to understand that this isn’t just an IT problem. It’s a business continuity nightmare in the making.

Next comes inventory. Companies need to identify all systems currently relying on vulnerable encryption algorithms. This includes everything from customer databases and internal communications to financial systems and supply chain processes. If it relies on encryption; it’s vulnerable.

Transitioning to quantum-resistant encryption won’t happen overnight. Businesses need to start updating infrastructure, software, and processes today to stay ahead of the curve. Waiting until quantum computers are widely available is like waiting until after a flood to buy sandbags.

This is also where collaboration matters. Businesses should work closely with industry groups, government agencies, and cyber security experts to stay informed about emerging standards and recommended practices. Quantum threats require a collective response, not just individual action.

At the same time, cyber criminals won’t sit idly by. They’ll evolve alongside defenders, using quantum technology to automate attacks, improve social engineering tactics, and bypass traditional defences. The result? A cyber arms race with quantum weaponry on both sides.

For small and medium-sized businesses, this might sound like a distant headache for big corporations and governments. But when quantum technology trickles down to affordable levels, no one will be safe. SMEs could find themselves on the front line, with outdated encryption providing all the protection of a damp paper bag.

The solution isn’t to panic (well, maybe a little). It’s to prepare. Embrace the concept of ‘crypto agility’; the ability to swiftly upgrade encryption algorithms without overhauling entire systems. Build flexibility into your infrastructure today, so adapting to quantum threats tomorrow doesn’t become a logistical nightmare.

Finally, remember that cyber security is always a moving target. Quantum computing may be the next big threat, but it won’t be the last. Businesses that build a culture of continuous learning, regular threat assessments, and proactive risk management will fare better than those who bury their heads in the sand.

So while quantum supremacy might still be a few years away, the time to act is now. Otherwise, your most sensitive data might end up as public property faster than you can say “Schrödinger’s encryption”.

Sources

NCSC - Preparing for Quantum-Safe Cryptography https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/whitepaper/preparing-for-quantum-safe-cryptography
Forbes - Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2023/11/02/why-businesses-need-to-start-preparing-for-quantum-computing-now/
TechRadar - Quantum Computing Threats Explained https://www.techradar.com/news/quantum-computing-poses-the-biggest-threat-to-our-digital-lives-heres-why
IBM - Quantum Computing and Cybersecurity https://www.ibm.com/security/quantum-computing
Wired - The Quantum Computing Security Crisis https://www.wired.com/story/quantum-computing-encryption-security/

Noel Bradford

Noel Bradford – Head of Technology at Equate Group, Professional Bullshit Detector, and Full-Time IT Cynic

As Head of Technology at Equate Group, my job description is technically “keeping the lights on,” but in reality, it’s more like “stopping people from setting their own house on fire.” With over 40 years in tech, I’ve seen every IT horror story imaginable—most of them self-inflicted by people who think cybersecurity is just installing antivirus and praying to Saint Norton.

I specialise in cybersecurity for UK businesses, which usually means explaining the difference between ‘MFA’ and ‘WTF’ to directors who still write their passwords on Post-it notes. On Tuesdays, I also help further education colleges navigate Cyber Essentials certification, a process so unnecessarily painful it makes root canal surgery look fun.

My natural habitat? Server rooms held together with zip ties and misplaced optimism, where every cable run is a “temporary fix” from 2012. My mortal enemies? Unmanaged switches, backups that only exist in someone’s imagination, and users who think clicking “Enable Macros” is just fine because it makes the spreadsheet work.

I’m blunt, sarcastic, and genuinely allergic to bullshit. If you want gentle hand-holding and reassuring corporate waffle, you’re in the wrong place. If you want someone who’ll fix your IT, tell you exactly why it broke, and throw in some unsolicited life advice, I’m your man.

Technology isn’t hard. People make it hard. And they make me drink.

https://noelbradford.com
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