Quantum Apocalypse: Meta’s Warning and Its Implications

Quantum Apocalypse is coming as Meta Engineers issue Stark Warning

iexclusivenews – Meta engineers have recently issued a stark warning: “The Quantum Apocalypse is coming.” This ominous statement refers to the impending threat of quantum decryption, a technological inflection point where quantum computers become capable of cracking standard encryption methods.

This development could potentially jeopardize the security of banks, satellites, military weapon systems, telecommunications centers, blockchains, cryptocurrency exchanges, and any other system relying on standard encryption techniques.

Understanding the Quantum Apocalypse

This online news outlet learnt that the term “Quantum Apocalypse,” also known as “Q-Day,” signifies a future scenario where quantum computers possess the capability to break current encryption standards.

There is both good news and bad news regarding this impending threat.

The good news is that the world is largely prepared for the threat of quantum decryption.

The United States Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has recently standardized its first set of quantum-resistant cryptography algorithms.

Two of the three approved algorithms were developed by IBM in collaboration with other research labs, while the third was created by an engineer who has since joined the IBM quantum team.

A fourth quantum-resistant algorithm is expected to be standardized by late 2024. Most major institutions have already begun implementing quantum-safe encryption protocols with assistance from government agencies and technology organizations.

However, the bad news is that this new form of quantum-safe encryption will not protect all the data that has already been stolen.

Quantum Apocalypse: Store Now, Decrypt Later

Once organizations implement new encryption standards, data currently residing on protected systems should be safe from future quantum computer attacks.

However, this will not retroactively protect data that has already been stolen and stored elsewhere.

The quantum computing industry is still in its infancy, and no system currently exists that can crack current standard encryption within a reasonable or feasible amount of time.

Nevertheless, bad actors do not need to decrypt data to steal it. There are numerous methods by which individuals or organizations can intercept, transfer, or copy encrypted data.

They can then wait for a quantum computer of sufficient capability to come along and finally crack open their treasure.

Before the onset of the pending quantum era, this kind of threat was not a significant concern.

For example, messages on WhatsApp and similar services are encrypted, meaning someone could intercept them by hacking into a sender or receiver’s network, but they would have no way to read them.

This might not concern most people today, but a different kind of quantum attack called “Store Now, Decrypt Later (SNDL)” could one day bring those messages to light.

All the data that has ever been stored on any networked computer, regardless of its level of encryption, could theoretically have been stolen.

Many “hacks” go undetected, and there is also the threat of authorized users making physical copies of data for nefarious purposes.

Meta’s Response to the Quantum Apocalypse

Meta has addressed this threat in a previous blog post, discussing the measures it is taking to ensure that, in the future, data on its networks will be safe against SNDL attacks.

However, there is nothing in that post or in the August 28 episode of the Meta Tech podcast to indicate that Meta has a plan for any data stolen prior to the implementation of its new quantum-safe protocols.

This indicates that the company’s engineers are correct to say,

“The Quantum Apocalypse is coming.” But it might be more accurate to add, “and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Even if Meta and every other institution globally that stores and/or transmits encrypted data become 100% quantum-proof in 2024, any data that existed prior could still be exposed when “Q-Day” arrives and the decryption phase of SNDL attacks begins.

What You Should Know

In conclusion, the warning from Meta engineers about the Quantum Apocalypse highlights a significant future threat to global data security.

While steps are being taken to mitigate this risk, the potential for previously stolen data to be decrypted remains a looming concern.

This underscores the importance of continued advancements in quantum-resistant cryptography and proactive measures to protect sensitive information.