From Enigma to Quantum Computing: When will Q-DAY arrive?

During World War II, the Enigma machine, considered unbreakable by the Germans, protected critical military communications. Its decryption by Alan Turing and the team at Bletchley Park changed the course of the conflict. Today, we face a new technological challenge, albeit with fundamental differences.

Modern encryption standards like AES-256 have replaced the Enigma machine and provide unprecedented levels of security.

However, the advent of quantum computing opens new scenarios. Chinese researchers have tested quantum attacks on simpler algorithms such as Present, Gift-64, and Rectangle, which use the structure of substitution-permutation networks (SPN). It is important to note that while these algorithms share some principles with AES, no specific passcodes have been cracked, and AES-256 remains secure.
The much-discussed "Q-Day" – the day when quantum computers might compromise current security protocols – requires a nuanced assessment.
While some encryption systems might become vulnerable to quantum attacks, others, like AES, will require only minor adjustments to maintain their security.

Next newsletter article, week 45:
A new computing paradigm-->

Photo: Carlo Dani -  CC BY-SA 4.0