For many tech enthusiasts, quantum computing is a fascinating subject. Although it’s not quite there yet (and probably won’t be for a long, long time), the potential of using quantum mechanics for performing computation is enormous.
However, not all that potential is positive. One long-held belief about the advent of quantum computing is that it will impact the efficacy of cryptography, the system underpinning SSL encryption online. Is this something the everyday person should be worried about, especially now that Google has made some significant strides with the creation of its new quantum chip?
Google doesn’t seem to think so.
What’s the deal with Willow?
Willow is Google’s latest quantum chip. What makes it significant is its reduced error tendencies. While errors are relatively rare on classical computers, according to Microsoft, error rates of 1% to 0.1% are typical for current state-of-the-art quantum computers. This could be set to change with the creation of Willow.
Google says its Quantum AI division decreased the error rate by using more qubits, as a result solving a key problem quantum research has pursued for the past thirty years. Now that quantum error correction has been cracked, Google says Willow has performed a computation that would take the world’s strongest supercomputer 10 septillion years, which is an unfathomable number that’s older than the universe.
From that perspective, Willow’s creation is certainly an exciting development, but is still unlikely to impact everyday computer users for a long time.
Why can’t Willow break modern cryptography?
Still, people across the Internet have been speculating what this could mean and whether this is the key to making hackers’ jobs easier, putting online encryption at risk, and endangering online infrastructure and people’s financial security.
Google claims it’s not, telling The Verge that the Willow chip simply isn’t capable of such a feat, despite its impressive computation power. That’s because you would need a “cryptanalytically relevant quantum computer,” or CRQC to break cryptography. Such a computer would need millions of physical qubits worth of that computing power to crack it. Willow only has 105.
Charina Chou, Google Quantum AI director and COO, said, “Estimates are we’re at least 10 years out from breaking RSA, and that around 4 million physical qubits would be required to do this”.
So, no need to worry about your SSL certificates just yet. Your online projects will remain safe and secure for the foreseeable future.
Cora is a digital copywriter for SSLs.com. Having eight years of experience in online content creation, she is a versatile writer with an interest in a wide variety of topics, ranging from technology to marketing.