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Google has unveiled a revolutionary chip, considered the most powerful in history. Experts debate whether it is capable of breaking modern encryption and transforming digital security.
Quantum computers have long been touted as a potential threat to modern cryptography, but Google has made it clear that its new Willow quantum chip is far from posing such a risk. In an interview with The Verge, Charina Chou, director and COO of Google Quantum AI, said: “The Willow chip is not capable of breaking modern cryptography.”
What is a CRQC?
A quantum computer capable of breaking modern cryptography is called a CRQC (Cryptoanalytically Relevant Quantum Computer).
This technology is considered a threat because it could compromise civilian and military communications, affect critical systems and even undermine financial transactions. online.
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In 2022, the White House recognized the potential risk of QRCs and mandated that U.S. agencies adopt post-quantum cryptography (PQC) systems by 2035 to protect against potential advances in this area.
Willow is far from being a CRQC
While Google claims Willow is a significant advance in quantum computing, it does not qualify as a QCR. According to Chou, the chip can solve problems in five minutes that would take the world's fastest supercomputer billions of years to solve.
However, with only 105 physical qubits available, it is far from reaching the millions of qubits needed to crack cryptography like RSA.
Google estimates that we are still at least 10 years away from developing technology capable of breaking RSA, and that would require around 4 million physical qubits.
Chinese researchers and RSA encryption
In recent years, Chinese researchers have claimed to have found methods to break RSA encryption using smaller quantum computers, with just hundreds or thousands of qubits.
However, security experts remain skeptical of these claims, highlighting the lack of practical evidence to support these assertions.
Post-quantum cryptography
To defend against the potential threat of QCRs, companies like Google are investing in post-quantum cryptography (PQC).
Since Edward Snowden's leaks, which revealed that the NSA was funding quantum research to crack codes, concerns about security have increased significantly.
In 2016, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched a competition to develop quantum-secure cryptography standards.
In August 2023, NIST finalized three algorithms and published standards for integration into products and systems. More algorithms are expected to be selected by the end of the year.
A global race for safety
The RAND Corporation highlighted in 2023 that the emergence of a CRQC would trigger a worldwide race to upgrade communications systems.
Once the existence of this technology became public or plausible, organizations around the world would quickly adopt post-quantum cryptography to protect their information.
While Willow’s breakthrough represents a milestone in quantum computing, it does not significantly alter the development timeline for a CRQC.
For Google, the current focus is on strengthening security systems and preparing solutions that anticipate possible threats.
Meanwhile, modern cryptography remains secure, and developing post-quantum security standards remains a priority for governments and businesses around the world.
Will be 🤔 let's wait