Rodney Casbierd Staying ahead of the baddies

Whether working, socialising, shopping or banking, most of us have got used to doing everything on the internet.

We do so confident that, when we see the padlock symbol, our personal data is safe and secure.

But right now your encrypted personal data may be being harvested by people intent on deciphering it in a few years time.

How is this possible?

Secure internet sites rely upon a clever technique called ‘asynchronous encryption’ to protect your data.

It is really difficult for present-day computers to crack.

But engineers across the world, notably in China and the USA, have been racing to develop a new breed of machines based upon the mind-bending science of quantum mechanics.

These ‘quantum computers’ work in a radically different way and will enable us to rapidly solve some tricky mathematical problems.

Unfortunately asynchronous encryption is one such problem.

The long-established ‘Shor’s algorithm’ will run on quantum computers and will allow your data to be decrypted.

Until a few years ago quantum computers remained a theoretical flight of fancy.

But more recently engineers have made great strides solving the technical problems involved and it is now clear to all, including fraudsters, that the technology will soon be a reality.

The good news is that there are several new encryption algorithms that should allow us to continue to use the internet securely in the future ‘quantum computer’ world. But by that time, helped by our present-day complacency, the bad guys may have all your personal details and passwords.