DEV Community: Irene Koner

Quantum Computing and the Future of Encryption

Irene Koner — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 15:14:23 +0000

Quantum Computing and the Future of Encryption: Is Our Digital Security at Risk?

Imagine waking up one morning to discover that the encryption protecting your bank details, private conversations and personal information is no longer as secure as you thought.

Sounds scary, right?

Encryption has always been one of the foundations of digital security. It protects our online transactions, messages and sensitive information from unauthorised access. However, with the development of quantum computing, the future of encryption is facing a new challenge.

Quantum computers have the potential to solve certain mathematical problems much faster than traditional computers. This raises an important question: Could the technology designed to advance computing also challenge the security systems we depend on every day?

1. So, What Exactly Is Quantum Computing?

To understand why quantum computers are different, we first need to look at how normal computers work. Traditional computers use bits that represent either 0 or 1. Quantum computers, on the other hand, use qubits. Thanks to quantum properties such as superposition and entanglement, they can approach certain complex problems in ways that traditional computers cannot.

2. Why Are Security Experts Concerned?

Many existing encryption systems rely on math problems that are extremely difficult for conventional computers to solve.

For example, RSA encryption relies on the difficulty of factoring very large numbers while elliptic curve cryptography relies on difficult mathematical problems involving elliptic curves.

A sufficiently powerful, fault-tolerant quantum computer running Shor's algorithm could solve these problems much more efficiently than classical computers. This could make widely used public key encryption and digital signature systems vulnerable.

Another important concern is the Harvest Now, Decrypt Later strategy. Attackers may gather encrypted information today and store it until future quantum computers become powerful enough to decrypt it. This is particularly concerning for sensitive information that must remain confidential for many years.

3. Does This Mean All Encryption Will Become Useless?

Quantum computing does not affect every encryption method in the same way.

Symmetric encryption methods, such as AES, are affected differently. Grover's algorithm could theoretically provide a quadratic speedup when searching for encryption keys. However, this does not mean that AES becomes completely useless. Using larger key sizes, such as AES-256, can provide stronger protection against this type of quantum threat.

Therefore, the main concern is not the complete disappearance of encryption but the need to upgrade existing cryptographic systems.

4. The Solution: Preparing for a Quantum-Safe Future

To address these challenges, researchers are developing Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). These are cryptographic algorithms designed to resist attacks from both classical and quantum computers.

In August 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalised its first three post-quantum cryptography standards:

FIPS 203 (ML-KEM): Designed for securely establishing encryption keys.
FIPS 204 (ML-DSA): Used for digital signatures and authentication.
FIPS 205 (SLH-DSA): Provides another digital signature approach based on hash functions.

These standards represent an important step towards preparing digital infrastructure for future quantum threats.

5. Are We Ready for What's Coming?

Organisations need to start evaluating their current encryption systems, identifying vulnerable technologies and planning their transition towards quantum-resistant alternatives.

This transition will require investment, testing and cooperation between cybersecurity professionals, researchers and technology companies.

Quantum computing is still developing, and today's quantum machines cannot simply break all widely deployed encryption systems. However, preparing early is important because replacing cryptographic systems across large organisations can take years.

My Perspective

What I find most interesting about quantum computing is that a technology created to solve complex computational problems could also challenge the security systems we have trusted for years. It shows that cybersecurity is never a one-time achievement. As technology evolves, security methods must evolve with it. I believe preparing for quantum-related threats today is much better than waiting until they become an immediate problem.

Conclusion

Quantum computing has the potential to transform technology, but it also challenges the foundations of modern digital security.

The development of post-quantum cryptography shows that researchers are already working towards stronger protection for the future.

Ultimately, the goal is not to stop quantum computing but to ensure that our security systems evolve alongside it. The future of cybersecurity will depend on how effectively we prepare for technologies that have not yet reached their full potential.

The quantum era may not have arrived yet, but preparing for it must start today.

References

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). (2024). NIST Releases First 3 Finalized Post-Quantum Encryption Standards.

https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2024/08/nist-releases-first-3-finalized-post-quantum-encryption-standards
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Post-Quantum Cryptography.

https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Post-Quantum Cryptography FAQs.

https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/post-quantum-cryptography/faqs

AI Case Study: Tesla Autopilot

Irene Koner — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:06:48 +0000

Tesla Autopilot is an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) that uses artificial intelligence to make driving safer and more autonomous. It combines computer vision, neural networks, and sensor fusion to perceive the environment, make driving decisions, and control the vehicle. While not fully self-driving yet, it represents a practical example of AI shaping everyday life.

How Tesla Autopilot Works

1. Data Collection (Sensors & Cameras)

Tesla vehicles are equipped with 8 cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and radar.
These sensors capture 360° views of the car’s surroundings, detecting lane markings, vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic lights.

2. Perception (Computer Vision + Neural Networks)

The raw sensor data is processed by deep neural networks trained on millions of real-world driving miles.
The AI interprets objects: cars, traffic signs, lanes, obstacles, and pedestrians.

3. Decision-Making (Planning & Prediction)

Using AI algorithms, the system predicts how nearby vehicles and pedestrians will move.
It plans safe maneuvers like lane changes, adaptive cruise control, and stopping at traffic lights.

4. Control (Execution)

The AI sends signals to the car’s braking, steering, and acceleration systems.
This ensures the car follows the plan safely, adjusting in real-time.

Diagram: Tesla Autopilot AI Flow

+----------------+     +-------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+
| Sensors & Data | --> | AI Perception     | --> | Decision-Making   | --> | Vehicle Control  |
| (Cameras, Radar|     | (Neural Networks) |     | (Path Planning)   |     | (Steer/Brake/Acc)|
+----------------+     +-------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+

Benefits

✔ Safety – Reduces human error accidents.
✔ Convenience – Auto lane change, adaptive cruise, parking assist.
✔ Learning System – Fleet learning improves AI models continuously.
✔ Efficiency – Optimizes routes and fuel/battery usage.

Challenges / Ethical Concerns

⚠ Not fully autonomous – Drivers must remain attentive.
⚠ Accident Liability – Blame on driver or Tesla?
⚠ Data Privacy – Tesla collects huge amounts of driving data.
⚠ Bias in AI training – Edge cases (rare scenarios) may cause failures.
⚠ Regulatory gaps – Different countries have unclear self-driving laws.

Conclusion

Tesla Autopilot is a real-world AI breakthrough in autonomous driving. Its success lies in combining sensor fusion, deep learning, and fleet data to make real-time driving safer. However, ethical and regulatory challenges must be addressed before reaching full autonomy. The system highlights both the power and responsibility of AI in society.

Digital Ethics Position Paper: Deepfakes

Irene Koner — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:37:55 +0000

In recent years, deepfakes—AI-generated synthetic media that convincingly mimics real people’s appearance or voice—have become one of the most concerning ethical challenges in the digital world. Originally developed as a demonstration of AI’s ability to create realistic visual and audio content, deepfakes are now used for both entertainment and harm. While there are positive applications, such as in film-making or education, the ethical risks—misinformation, fraud, harassment, and erosion of trust—far outweigh the benefits if left unregulated.

This paper argues that deepfakes pose a serious threat to trust in digital communication and democracy. Strong regulation, digital literacy, and technological safeguards are essential to balance innovation with responsibility.

The Ethical Problem

The central ethical issue with deepfakes is misuse for deception. By enabling realistic but fake videos and audio clips, deepfakes can:

Spread misinformation during elections by making politicians appear to say or do things they never did. For example, a 2020 deepfake of Nancy Pelosi circulated widely, manipulated to make her appear impaired.
Facilitate harassment and exploitation, particularly through non-consensual pornographic content—most deepfakes online target women.
Enable fraud and identity theft, such as AI-cloned voices being used in scams to impersonate family members or CEOs for financial gain.
Undermine trust in media, creating a “liar’s dividend,” where even real videos can be dismissed as fake.

Thus, deepfakes create a digital environment where truth becomes negotiable—an outcome deeply dangerous for societies built on evidence, accountability, and trust.

Counterarguments

Advocates for deepfakes argue that the technology itself is neutral—it is merely a tool. In creative industries, deepfakes are already being used for film de-aging, voice restoration for historical documentaries, and accessibility, such as generating speech for people who have lost their voices. Furthermore, some see them as a form of artistic expression or satire protected by free speech rights.

While these uses are valid, the scale of harm from malicious use far surpasses the controlled benefits. What differentiates deepfakes from traditional editing is their accessibility: with free tools, almost anyone can create highly realistic fake content. This lowers the barrier to large-scale misuse.

Position and Responsibility

I take the stance that deepfakes must be considered an urgent ethical and regulatory issue. Left unchecked, they could erode public trust to the point where no digital evidence is reliable. This undermines journalism, justice systems, and democratic discourse. Responsibility lies not only with individual creators but also with:

Tech companies that develop and distribute AI tools.
Governments that need to implement legal frameworks.
Society at large, which must improve digital literacy to recognize manipulation.

Proposed Solutions

Legislation and Regulation: Governments should criminalize malicious deepfake use, particularly in political manipulation, fraud, and non-consensual pornography. Countries like China and the EU are already drafting AI-specific laws.
Watermarking and Detection: AI developers must build traceable digital watermarks into generated content, allowing easy identification of synthetic media. Tech giants such as Meta and OpenAI are experimenting with this.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Citizens must be educated to question the authenticity of digital content, much like media literacy campaigns for fake news.
Ethical AI Development: Companies must follow strict standards ensuring their tools cannot be abused easily. For example, requiring identity verification before accessing powerful generation models.

Conclusion

Deepfakes represent a pivotal digital ethics challenge. While they showcase the creative potential of AI, their misuse poses severe risks to democracy, personal safety, and social trust. The ethical responsibility falls on regulators, tech companies, and society to establish safeguards without stifling innovation. In my view, the solution lies in proactive governance combined with public education and technological accountability. If we act now, deepfakes can remain a creative tool; if not, they may become one of the most destabilizing forces of the digital age.

Cloud vs Edge vs Local Architecture for Security Camera

Irene Koner — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 14:16:33 +0000

1. Cloud Computing Architecture

Working

Security camera continuously streams video to the cloud server.
The cloud handles storage, AI video analytics, and event detection.
Alerts/notifications are pushed to the user’s mobile/PC app.
Playback and monitoring happen from anywhere using the internet.

Diagram

+-------------+      Internet      +----------------+
| Security    | -----------------> | Cloud Server   |
| Camera      |                    | (Processing,   |
| (Video Feed)| <----------------- | Storage, AI)   |
+-------------+      Alerts        +----------------+
                                      |
                                      v
                                 +-----------+
                                 |   User    |
                                 +-----------+

Pros

Scalable: Easy to connect unlimited devices.
Accessible Anywhere: Remote monitoring from any location.
Centralized Management: All processing and updates happen in the cloud.

Cons

High Latency: Depends on internet speed.
Privacy Risks: Data stored on third-party servers.
Recurring Costs: Requires subscription/storage charges.
Downtime Issues: If cloud is down, system may fail.

2. Edge Computing Architecture

Working

Camera sends data to a local edge device/gateway (e.g., router, small server, AI box).
Edge device does real-time AI processing (motion detection, anomaly recognition).
Only filtered/processed data is sent to the cloud for backup or analytics.
User receives instant alerts with reduced bandwidth usage.

Diagram

+-------------+     Local Network    +---------------+      Internet     +----------------+
| Security    | -------------------> | Edge Device   | ----------------> | Cloud Server   |
| Camera      |                      | (AI, Filtering|                   | (Storage,      |
| (Video Feed)| <------------------- |  Processing)  | <---------------- | Analytics)     |
+-------------+     Quick Alerts     +---------------+     Summary       +----------------+
        |                                                             
        v                                                              
    +-----------+                                                      
    |   User    |                                                      
    +-----------+

Pros

Low Latency: Faster alerts since AI runs locally.
Bandwidth Efficient: Sends only relevant data to the cloud.
Better Security: Sensitive data can stay local.
Works Offline (partially): Basic detection works even without internet.

Cons

Costly Setup: Requires edge devices (AI-enabled gateways).
Limited Power: Edge devices have lower processing capacity than cloud.
Maintenance: Requires local updates and management.

3. Local Computing Architecture

Working

Security camera streams video directly to a local server or NVR/DVR.
Processing, storage, and playback are done locally.
User can access data only within the LAN (Local Area Network).
No dependency on cloud or internet.

Diagram

+-------------+       Local Network       +----------------+
| Security    | ------------------------> | Local Server / |
| Camera      |                           | NVR (Storage & |
| (Video Feed)| <------------------------ | Processing)    |
+-------------+       Alerts/Playback     +----------------+
                                             |
                                             v
                                        +-----------+
                                        |   User    |
                                        +-----------+

Pros

Very Low Latency: Processing happens instantly.
Most Secure: Data never leaves the local network.
No Internet Required: Works fully offline.
One-time Cost: No recurring subscription fees.

Cons

Limited Scalability: Adding more cameras needs more local storage.
No Remote Access (unless configured via VPN).
High Upfront Cost: Expensive NVR/DVR hardware.
Maintenance Burden: User must manage backups and updates.

Comparison Table (Cloud vs Edge vs Local)

Feature	Cloud Computing	Edge Computing	Local Computing
Working	Camera → Cloud Server → User	Camera → Edge Device → Cloud/User	Camera → Local Server/NVR → User
Processing	Cloud servers	Nearby edge device (AI gateway)	Local NVR/Server
Latency	High (depends on internet)	Low (near-real time)	Very Low (LAN only)
Scalability	Very high, easy to add devices	Moderate (depends on edge capacity)	Limited (hardware-bound)
Reliability	Requires internet/cloud uptime	Works with weak internet (partially offline)	Fully offline capable
Security	Risk of privacy breach (cloud storage)	Safer (less data goes to cloud)	Most secure (data stays local)
Cost	Ongoing subscription/storage costs	Medium (edge device + some cloud storage)	High upfront cost, no recurring fees
Best Use Case	Large-scale, remote access	Real-time AI alerts + cloud backup	Small setups, secure offline monitoring

DFD of an ATM system

Irene Koner — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 13:56:43 +0000

Level 0 DFD (Context Diagram, ATM System)

This depicts the ATM System as a single process with external entities.

Entities & Flows:

Customer → inserts Card & PIN, Transaction Request → ATM System
ATM System → provides Cash, Receipt, Account Info → Customer
Bank Database ↔ verifies PIN, Account Details, Balance ↔ ATM System
Bank Server ↔ processes Fund Transfer, Withdrawal, Deposit ↔ ATM System

Diagram Structure (Level 0)

Customer --------------------->
                                   \
                                    \         +-------------------+
                                     ----->   |                   |
   Bank Database <----------------->          |      ATM System    |
                                              |                   |
   Bank Server  <----------------->           +-------------------+

 Customer <-----------------------

Level 1 DFD (Decomposition of ATM System)

Now we break down the ATM System into sub-processes.

Processes in ATM System:

Authenticate User → Customer enters card & PIN, verified with Bank Database.
Select Transaction → Options: Withdraw, Deposit, Balance Inquiry, Fund Transfer.
Process Transaction → Executes transaction via Bank Server.
Dispense Cash / Receipt → Dispenses cash or prints receipt.
Update Account → Updates balance in Bank Database.

Data Stores:

D1: Customer Account Database (account details, balance, PIN).

D2: Transaction Log Database (history of withdrawals, deposits, transfers).

Diagram Structure (Level 1)

Customer ---> [1. Authenticate User] <----> Bank Database  
                  |  
                  v  
Customer ---> [2. Select Transaction]  
                  |  
                  v  
        [3. Process Transaction] <----> Bank Server  
                  |  
                  v  
        [4. Dispense Cash / Receipt] ---> Customer  
                  |  
                  v  
        [5. Update Account] <----> Bank Database  

Data Stores:  
D1: Customer Account Database  
D2: Transaction Log Database

How AI in Google Maps Helps Me Daily

Irene Koner — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 10:28:00 +0000

Navigation today feels effortless. With a single tap, I can find the shortest route, estimate travel time, or avoid a traffic jam. Behind this everyday convenience lies a powerful force: Artificial Intelligence (AI). Google Maps uses AI to process billions of data points in real time. It has become one of the most essential tech tools in my daily life.

The Brain of Google Maps: Artificial Intelligence

Google Maps isn’t just a digital map; it’s a smart system powered by AI. Every phone with location services acts as a sensor, sending anonymous data about speed, movement, and location to Google. AI collects and analyzes this data to understand:

Which roads are busy
Where accidents or blockages might be
How long it will take to reach a destination

Data Collection and Processing

User Devices (GPS & Speed Data)  
            ↓  
  Google AI Servers  
            ↓  
Processed Map Updates  
            ↓  
   Suggestions to User

Smart Route Planning

AI doesn’t just give me the shortest path. It considers:

Real-time traffic conditions
Historical data, like daily rush-hour trends
Road closures or accidents
Weather conditions, in some cases

For example, if traffic usually builds up on a highway around 8:30 a.m., Google Maps may guide me to a side road, even before the jam begins. This predictive ability makes route planning smarter than simply looking at distance.

Route Optimization Flow

Start Point → AI Analysis → Route A (Fastest) | Route B (Backup) | Route C (Scenic)

Daily Life Benefits

Here’s how AI in Google Maps impacts my daily routine:

Avoiding Traffic Jams: Before leaving home, I check the map. If my usual road is congested, it suggests faster alternatives.
Accurate ETAs: The Estimated Time of Arrival adjusts in real time, helping me plan better.
Exploring New Places: AI recommends restaurants, fuel stations, and landmarks based on popularity and reviews.
Public Transport Help: It shows bus and train timings, delays, and suggests alternatives when one option is overcrowded.
Saving Time & Fuel: By optimizing routes, I travel efficiently and reduce fuel consumption.

Features Powered by AI

[Traffic Prediction]   [Alternate Routes]   [ETA Updates]  
        \                    |                   /  
             ----> Google AI Engine <----  
        /                    |                   \  
 [Nearby Recommendations]  [Public Transport Info]

A Real-Life Example

One morning, I had to reach an exam center across the city. Normally, I would take the main road. But Google Maps showed heavy congestion due to an accident. Instead, AI guided me through an unfamiliar side street. I trusted the suggestion and arrived 15 minutes early while many others were stuck. That day, I truly saw how powerful AI is in shaping daily routines.

Complete AI Workflow in Google Maps

User Location Data → AI Analyzes Traffic & History → Google Maps Suggests Best Route → User Gets Updated ETA

Conclusion

What once required asking strangers for directions is now solved by tapping a screen. AI in Google Maps has become my invisible travel partner, analyzing millions of signals every second to save me time, reduce stress, and help me explore more confidently.

In the end, every smooth journey I take isn’t just about the roads; it’s about the intelligence behind the map.