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NSA Reports Encryption Safe from Quantum Computers

September 2, 2021

Quantum computers are the next generation of computers that are, as they would say in New England, wicked powerful. So powerful, that some have opined that quantum computers have enough computing juice to crack modern day encryption. In the immortal words of Alfred E. Neuman “What, Me Worry?” The National Security Agency (NSA) certainly isn’t worried. The Register reported the NSA published a paper about quantum computing concluding it believes encryption is not in danger of being compromised using quantum computers.

Basically, quantum computers have the ability to solve very complex mathematical problems much quicker. “In the NSA’s summary, a “cryptographically relevant quantum computer” would be capable of breaking asymmetric public-key cryptographic algorithms – and the absence of any such quantum computer for now is rather a relief.” That’s good news as the NSA considers AES-256 to be more than sufficient for today’s encryption needs. If you still have doubts, the FAQs for Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography may make you feel a little better.

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