The Quantum Security Problem No One Is Ready For

As quantum computing moves closer to real-world use, researchers are beginning to question how secure these powerful machines truly are. Emerging work suggests that entirely new forms of risk may arise from the way quantum systems are built and operated, raising concerns that existing safeguards may not translate to this next generation of computing. Credit: Stock Quantum computing promises extraordinary power, but that same power may expose new security weaknesses. Quantum computers are expected to deliver dramatic gains in processing speed and capability, with the potential to reshape fields ranging from scientific research to commercial innovation. However, those same advantages could also make these machines attractive targets for cyberattacks, according to Swaroop Ghosh, a professor of computer science and electrical engineering at the Penn State School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Ghosh and co-author Suryansh Upadhyay, who recently earned his doctorate in electrical engineering from Penn State, examined these concerns in a new research paper that outlines key security weaknesses in current quantum computing systems. Published in the Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) , the study argues that protecting quantum computers will require more than software safeguards, emphasizing the importance of securing the underlying hardware as well. In a question-and-answer discussion, Ghosh and Upadhyay explore how quantum computers differ from traditional machines, why their unique design introduces new security challenges, and what steps developers can take now to better protect these emerging technologies as they move closer to widespread use. Q: What makes a quantum computer different from a traditional computer? Ghosh: Traditional computing works using units of information called bits, which you can picture as a light switch in the “on” or “off” position. These positions are assigned values of one or zero, with one representing on and zero representing off. We program computers by using algorithms or educated guesses to develop the best possible solution for a problem, compiling this solution to generate machine-level instructions - directions specifying which bits need to equal one and which bits need to equal zero - that the computer follows to execute a task. Quantum computers are built on quantum bits, or qubits. These qubits are much more versatile than standard bits, capable of effectively representing one, zero, or both at the same time, otherwise known as a superposition. These qubits can also be linked to one another, known as entanglement. By incorporating superpositions and entanglement into decision-making, quantum computers can process exponentially more data than bit-powered computing systems, while using an equivalent number of qubits. This is useful for improving workflows in many industries, since quantum computers can process information much faster than traditional computers. One example is the pharmaceutical industry, where quantum computing can quickly process data and predict the efficacy of potential new drugs, significantly streamlining the research and development process. This can save companies billions of dollars and decades spent researching, testing, and fabricating innovative drugs. Q: What are some of the main security vulnerabilities facing quantum computers right now? Upadhyay: Currently,...

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