Encryption built for today won't survive tomorrow's computers.

Quantum computers will one day break the cryptography that protects banking, messaging and government secrets. Fixing that takes people, not just technology. We explain it in plain language.

See what you can doWhy it matters

The danger starts before the machine exists.

Attackers can copy encrypted data now and unlock it years later. Anything that must stay secret for a decade or more is already at risk.

Harvest now, decrypt later

Encrypted traffic is recorded today, then opened once quantum computers are powerful enough.

Public-key crypto breaks

RSA and elliptic-curve methods, which secure websites and logins, can be broken by Shor's algorithm on a large quantum computer.

Symmetric crypto bends

AES holds up well. Using longer keys, such as AES-256, is enough to keep it safe.

Four steps any organisation can start this year.

  1. Find where you use cryptographyList systems, vendors, certificates and devices that rely on RSA or elliptic curves.
  2. Rank what must stay secret longestHealth records, legal files and state data need protection first.
  3. Ask your suppliers for a planMake post-quantum support a standard question in every renewal.
  4. Design to swap algorithmsBuild systems so encryption can be replaced without a rebuild.

The new standards are already here.

In 2024, the US standards body NIST published its first post-quantum cryptography standards. They are built on maths that quantum computers are not known to solve quickly.

ML-KEM

FIPS 203. Establishes shared secret keys, replacing key exchange.

ML-DSA

FIPS 204. Digital signatures for software, documents and identity.

SLH-DSA

FIPS 205. A backup signature method built on hash functions.

Common questions

Can quantum computers break encryption today?

No. Current machines are far too small and error-prone. The risk is that this will change, and that data is being stored now.

Is quantum key distribution the same as post-quantum cryptography?

No. Post-quantum cryptography is software that runs on ordinary computers. Quantum key distribution needs special hardware and solves a narrower problem.

Do I need to do anything as an individual?

Keep devices and browsers updated. They will adopt the new algorithms for you. Ask your bank and providers what their plans are.