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ANIRUDDHA  ADAK
ANIRUDDHA ADAK

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Quantum Threat: Will Quantum Computers Break Crypto?

A Story for Anyone Who’s Ever Panic-Googled “Is My Password Safe?”

So, picture this: You’re sprawled on the couch, halfway through a Netflix documentary about sentient toasters (don’t ask), when your phone blows up.

It’s your cousin Dave—again—forwarding an article titled “QUANTUM COMPUTERS WILL EAT YOUR BITCOIN BY 2025!!1!” with 12 fire emojis. You sigh, mute the TV, and think: Is this real? Or did Dave finally crack after that “invest in crypto llamas” phase?

Let’s talk about it. But first, grab a snack. This story involves math, spies, and a sprinkle of existential dread.


Chapter 1: The Golden Age of “Don’t Look at My Stuff”

Back in the day, keeping secrets online was simple. You’d type “password123” into a website, and a little padlock icon would pop up like a digital bouncer. That padlock? It ran on something called RSA encryption—a math trick so clever, it made hackers throw their energy drinks in frustration.

Here’s how it worked: RSA would take two gigantic prime numbers, multiply them together, and dare hackers to figure out the originals. It was like hiding a needle in a haystack, except the haystack was the size of Jupiter, and the needle was also made of hay. For 40 years, this worked flawlessly. Hackers moved on to easier targets, like phishing your grandma’s email for her famous meatloaf recipe.

Life was good.

Then, like a villain in a Marvel post-credits scene, quantum computers started creeping into labs.


Chapter 2: Quantum Computers Enter, Stage Left

Quantum computers aren’t normal computers. Normal computers use bits—tiny switches that are either “on” (1) or “off” (0). Quantum computers use qubits, which are more like mood rings. They can be 1, 0, or both at the same time. (Scientists call this “superposition,” but honestly, it’s just showing off.)

Why does this matter? Let’s say you’re looking for your keys in a dark room. A normal computer checks one spot at a time. A quantum computer turns on all the lights, clones itself, and checks everywhere at once. It’s the overachieving sibling who finishes your homework while you’re still Googling “how to do algebra.”

Now, meet Shor’s Algorithm—the quantum computer’s cheat code for cracking RSA’s prime-number puzzle. If quantum machines get powerful enough, Shor’s could turn “password123” back into plain text faster than you can say, “Wait, did I leave my Wi-Fi on?”


Chapter 3: The Crypto Rebellion (Starring Math Nerds)

Before you burn your laptop and move to a cabin in the woods, know this: Cryptographers saw this coming. They’ve been brewing up post-quantum cryptography—algorithms tougher than a two-dollar steak. Think of it as RSA’s cooler, younger sibling who does CrossFit and eats quantum problems for breakfast.

The candidates?

  • Lattice-based crypto: Imagine trying to solve a maze in 15 dimensions. Even quantum computers get dizzy.
  • Hash-based crypto: Like sending a message through 8 billion people playing telephone. By the end, “Meet me at Starbucks” becomes “Weep at the moon, Socrates.”
  • Code-based crypto: Uses math so obscure, it’s basically the Tax Code of encryption.

Governments and tech giants are racing to adopt these. The U.S. agency NIST is hosting a crypto Hunger Games to pick the best ones. Spoiler: No one dies, but there’s a lot of whiteboard scribbling.


Chapter 4: The Plot Twist No One Wants

Here’s the kicker: Today’s quantum computers are about as stable as a Jenga tower in an earthquake. They need temperatures colder than space, cost more than a yacht, and still can’t run Minecraft. Breaking RSA? They’d need millions of qubits. Right now, the best ones have ~1,000—enough to impress your LinkedIn followers, but not enough to steal your Amazon password.

But. There’s a sneaky loophole. Hackers could pull a “digital time capsule” heist: Steal encrypted data now, stash it, and wait for quantum computers to evolve. Your grandkids might get a rude awakening when hackers leak your 2024 search history: “Why do I have 10 toes?” “Can cats sense regret?”


Chapter 5: So… Should You Panic?

Short answer: Nah.

Long answer: Nah, but maybe side-eye your passwords.

Experts say we’ve got 10–15 years before quantum computers become RSA’s midlife crisis. By then, quantum-proof encryption will likely be the new normal. Companies like Google and Apple are already testing it, and even Bitcoin might ditch its vintage 2009 code (though convincing crypto purists will take more than a Elon Musk tweet).

Your job? Do the boring stuff: Use strong passwords, enable two-factor auth, and maybe stop using “qwerty” because come on.


Epilogue:

Somewhere in the cloud, RSA kicks back in a digital hammock, sipping a pixelated margarita. “I survived the Y2K panic,” it mutters. “I’ll survive the quantum nerds.” Meanwhile, in a lab, a quantum computer finally renders a decent-looking glass of water in Minecraft. Progress!


P.S. Tell Dave to chill. His Bitcoin’s safe. Probably.

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