Key Takeaways
- Bits vs Qubits: Regular computers use 0s and 1s. Quantum computers use Qubits that can be 0, 1, or both at once.
- Superposition: This allows them to calculate millions of possibilities instantly.
- The Threat: They are powerful enough to crack RSA encryption (which protects banks) in minutes.
- The Solution: "Post-Quantum Cryptography" (PQC) is being developed right now.
Imagine you are looking for a needle in a haystack. A normal computer picks up one piece of hay at a time. A Quantum computer picks up the entire haystack at once and instantly reveals the needle.
Understanding the Qubit
In classical computing, a bit is a switch: either On or Off.
In Quantum computing, a Qubit is like a spinning coin. While it spins, it is both Heads and Tails. This is called Superposition.
If you have 2 regular bits, you have 4 states (00, 01, 10, 11), but you can only be in one state at a time.
With 2 Qubits, you can be in all 4 states at once.
With 300 Qubits, you have more states than there are atoms in the universe.
Shor's Algorithm & The End of RSA
Current encryption (RSA) relies on the fact that multiplying two huge prime numbers is easy, but finding the original numbers (factoring) is insanely hard. It would take a supercomputer millions of years.
Shor's Algorithm is a math formula that Quantum computers can use to solve this factoring problem in minutes. Once they are powerful enough, all current bank transactions will be readable.
Harvest Now, Decrypt Later
Hackers are stealing encrypted data today and storing it on hard drives. They can't read it yet. But they are waiting for 10 years from now, when Quantum computers are real, so they can unlock all that stolen data. This is why we need Post-Quantum security NOW.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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