Quantum Computing: The Growing Threat Of SNDL

Uploaded on 2024-01-31 in TECHNOLOGY--Developments, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-IT & Telecoms, TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Quantum Computing

Advances in the combined power of computing and Artificial Intelligence are on the verge of transforming many aspect of work and life. As these technologies become more widely distributed it is becoming very important to understand the potential security risks. Specifically, quantum computing promises extraordinary performance gains that could have a profound impact on global economies, security and welfare.

Quantum computing has the potential transform industries like financial services, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals and has attracted significant private & public sector investment. But the power of quantum computing can be leveraged for bad purposes and even with the best intentions, these downside risks need to be considered.

Microsoft has already told organisations to begin preparing for potential cyber attacks based on quantum technology and cyber criminals are already gathering encrypted data so they can attack it as soon as the right tools are available. CISOs must start planning for the future today.

Currently, sophisticated threat actors are carrying out Store Now Decrypt Later (SNDL) attacks against the US and other governments, and they are storing sensitive encrypted data which is critical to national security.

Often the purpose of stealing this sensitive data is to decrypt it using quantum computers. Previously, the public-key encryption algorithms that have protected stored data, communications, financial transactions, networks, government secrets, intellectual property and other assets for nearly 50 years, will become obsolete, and the sensitive information that they protected will be revealed by quantum computing.

Any encrypted data that has already been stolen can no longer be protected and this danger is immediate.

Quantum computing applies the principles of quantum physics to information technology. While classical computing is based on binary bits, quantum computing uses quantum bits, or “qubits”. Like a bit, a qubit can hold a value of 0 or 1, but it can also have a superposition state, being in both states simultaneously. Another important quality is entanglement, which means that one or more qubits can be linked together so that changes to one qubit affect the other, even if those two qubits are light years apart from one another.

The benefits that could come with the power of quantum computing are frequently discussed, but the cyber security of this new computing is also high level security problem facing governments.

It’s imperative that government regulatory agencies start migrating vulnerable cyber security protocols to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) as PQC will protect this sensitive government and critical industry data from these new types of cyber attacks.

The US government has already taken some positive steps against this national security threat. In May 2022 President Biden issued an executive order, along with two national security memorandums directing the US to accelerate its quantum computing cyber security. Subsequently the US House of Representatives passed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act and this bill now awaits Senate review. Industry is standing by to support the US government upon Senate approval and US Government implementation.

While it is a much-needed step in the right direction, the proposed legislation does not adequately take account of the present threat posed by SNDL attacks on vital government, military and infrastructure systems that rely on current public key cryptography.

Much of the encrypted data will continue to be sensitive for decades. Once this data is exfiltrated, there is nothing that can be done to prevent it from eventually being exploited by adversaries. Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) protocols can protect against SNDL attacks, but the migration process to PQC is unlikely to be quick

Quantum computing is still developing and it is uncertain the extent of the transformation or how quickly quantum computers will spread throughout the business world and the criminal world. But while quantum computing is certain to have a profound impact on existing cryptography, it is already delivering innovation in cyber security that will help mitigate increasingly sophisticated threats.

Microsoft: Whitehouse: Whitehouse: US Congress: Cyberscoop: Forbes:

Springer/Link: Mimecast: Cybermagazine: Image: Alex Shuper

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