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Q-Day is the term some experts use to describe when large-scale quantum computers are able to factorize the large prime numbers that underlie our public encryption systems, such as the ones that are supposed to protect our bank accounts, financial markets, and most vital infrastructure.Thats a feat thats all but impossible for even the fastest supercomputers but which the unique features of quantum computers, using the physics of superpositioning and entanglement, will be able to deliver.

Theres a growing consensus that this quantum threat is real; theres no agreement how long it will take before a quantum computer has the 4000 or so stable qubits it will need to meet the requirements of Shors algorithm for cracking those encryption systems.

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For example, it would take a classical computer 300 trillion years to crack an RSA-2048 bit encryption key.A quantum computer can do the same job in just ten seconds with 4099 stable qubitsbut getting to that number is the main problem quantum computer engineers face since the stability or coherence of qubits lasts only for microseconds. Todays most entangled computer, Googles GOOG Bristlecone, has just 72 stable qubits.

Nonetheless, I have been arguing for the past four years, including in this column, that Q-Day is likely to come sooner than even quantum scientists can predict, and that the time to get ready to protect our vulnerable data and networks is now. Others prefer to procrastinate, citing other experts who say such a threat is at least a decade or more away. The fact that the National Institute of Standards and Technology wont have its quantum-resistant algorithm standards ready until 2024, and expects the rollout to space out for another five to fifteen years, has helped to encourage complacency disguised as confidence.

Quantum computer. Conceptual computer artwork of electronic circuitry with blue light passing ... [+] through it, representing how data may be controlled and stored in a quantum computer.

But new developments in quantum science suggest that this complacency is misplaced. If the large-scale quantum computer is the ultimate thermonuclear device in cyberwarfare, the dirty bomb is the quantum annealerand its probably going to be here sooner than even experts thought.

So-called quantum annealers like the one Canada-based D-Wave Systems, Inc. uses, are able to calculate the lowest energy level between the qubits different states of entanglement, which equals the optimal solution. These machines have proven their worth in solving optimization problems that usually stump classical computers, as I explained in a column last month.

Not surprisingly, scientists have been quietly finding ways to turn factorizationthe decryption process that leads to Q-Dayinto an optimization problem instead of relying Shors algorithm, the paradigm for discussing quantum decryption since the 1990s. In 2019 scientific papers emerged that showed how to do this, including factorizing integers using noisy qubits, i.e. swarms of quantum bits that arent perfectly entangled the way a large-scale computer requires.

One was authored by Chinese scientists who found a way to factor a large number using only 89 noisy qubits. They then showed its possible to factorize a RSA-768 encryption numberthe current factorization record using classical computerswith 147,454 noisy qubits. Thats a tiny fraction of the millions of qubits a large quantum computer would need to reach the 4000 stable qubit threshold, and within reach of the architecture of an annealer like D-Wave Systems.

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That same year a pair of researchers from Google and the Royal Institute of Technology at Stockholm published a paper showing how to crack 2028-bit RSA integers in 8 hours using 20 million noisy qubits.Given the fact that in 2012 scientists speculated that it would take 1 billion qubits to perform this feat, it wont be long before researchers show they can get there with a lot fewer than 20 million qubits.

Sure enough, in 2020 three Chinese researchers found a way to use the D-Wave quantum computer to factorize large integers, that completely bypasses Shors algorithm. Thus, they concluded, post-quantum cryptography should consider further the potential of the D-Wave quantum computer for deciphering the RSA cryptosystem in future.

In effect, these researchers found a way to turn decryption using quantum technology into a straightforward process on a timeline much shorter than ten years: perhaps four to five years is more likely.

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This was what Chinese scientists are openly publishing.We dont know whats happening behind the scenes, but we can bet if theres a short cut to achieve what a large-scale quantum computer can do using annealing technology, their military and intelligence services will want to find out.

All this changes the timetable for Q-Day significantly, and our strategic calculations.Not only is quantum-based decryption coming our way sooner, but thanks to annealing that code-breaking feature will be more accessible to other machines than the hugely expensive large-scale computers Google, Microsoft, and others are working onwhich puts the threat within reach of small-state or even non-state actors.

Thats why the dirty bomb analogy is so apt. Why gamble with the quantum future?Annealing technology makes getting quantum ready more important, and getting started now, more imperative than ever.

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Q-Day Is Coming Sooner Than We Think - Forbes

New York, USA, June 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a recent report studied by Research Dive, the global quantum computing market is speculated to exceed $667.3 million by the end of 2027 , rising from a market size of $88.2 million in 2019 , at a growth rate of 30.0% during 2020-2027 estimated timeframe. The report highlights the coronavirus mayhem impact on the market, major drivers, hindrances, and regional outlook of the market. The research methodology used in the report is a combination of both primary and secondary research methods.

Download FREE Sample Report of the Global Quantum Computing Market: https://www.researchdive.com/download-sample/8332

Covid-19 Outbreak Impact on the Global Market

The quantum computing market is anticipated to experience a positive impact globally during the coronavirus crises. The reason for market growth is that quantum technology offers augmented performance computing that can shift dynamics for quantum chemistry. Further, quantum technology provides exponential speed for amplified optimization and vital calculations. These facets are predicted to govern the market growth during the coronavirus emergency.

Check out How COVID-19 impacts the Global Quantum Computing Market. Click here to Connect with our Analyst to get more Market Insight: https://www.researchdive.com/connect-to-analyst/8332

Aspects Impacting the Market

The global quantum computing market is projected to witness progressive growth due to rise in the cyber-attack cases. Quantum technology assures security to software systems and applications and protects vital data of organizations from attacks such as ransomware, phishing, worms, and much more. Furthermore, key companies of the market are planning strategic frameworks by utilizing quantum personal computers for cyber-security. These aspects are anticipated to surge the market growth during the forecasted timeframe. However, a lack of awareness of quantum technology and unskilled employees is expected to hinder the market growth. On the other hand, the ability of quantum technology to aid farmers in augmenting the yield and efficiency of plants is projected to create promising opportunities for the market growth.

Access Varied Market Reports Bearing Extensive Analysis of the Market Situation, Updated With The Impact of COVID-19: https://www.researchdive.com/covid-19-insights

Consulting Solutions Sub-Segment to be the Most Profitable

From the offerings type segment, the consulting solutions sub-segment is anticipated to reach newer heights during the timeframe. The sub-segment is expected to register a revenue of $354.0 million by the end of the 2027 timeframe. The sub-segment upsurge is due to the usage of quantum computing in applications such as drug discovery, formulation of chemicals, material science, and automotive. Apart from this, it is also used in the chemical industry, aerospace & defense, healthcare, and energy & power sectors. These wide-scale applications are speculated to bolster the growth of the sub-segment during the forecasted years.

Check out all Information and communication technology & media Industry Reports: https://www.researchdive.com/information-and-communication-technology-and-media

Machine Learning Sub-Segment to Gain Maximum Revenue

From the application segment, the machine learning sub-segment is projected to achieve maximum revenue during the forecasted timeframe. The sub-segment is anticipated to cross $236.9 million by the end of 2027, rising from a market share of $29.7 million in the year 2019. The ability of quantum learning to accelerate machine learning such as optimization, deep learning, Kernel evaluation, and linear algebra is expected to propel the sub-segment market growth during the analyzed timeframe.

Finance & Banking Sub-Segment to Witness Rapid Growth

From the end-user segment, the finance & banking sub-division is speculated to grow rapidly and register a revenue of $159.2 million by 2027 . The sub-segment growth is due to the usage of quantum technology in banking for supporting the large-frequency trading aspect.

Regional Outlook

The European market was expected to hold a market size of $28.2 million in 2019 and is speculated to garner a revenue of $221.2 million by the end of 2027. The market growth is mainly attributed to the extensive use of quantum computing in fields such as chemicals, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and utilities. Moreover, its usage in cryptography, novel drugs, defense, and cybersecurity is predicted to drive the global market during the estimated timeframe.

Major Key Players

QC Ware, Corp. Cambridge Quantum Computing Limited D-Wave Systems Inc., International Business Machines Corporation Rigetti Computing 1QB Information Technologies River Lane Research StationQ Microsoft Anyon Google Inc.

These leading players are planning varied strategies such as acquisitions of companies, product developments, tie-ups & collaborations for maximizing profits, research & development, and organizational development to gain an upper edge in the market worldwide. For example, in April 2021, Nvidia, a computer systems design services company, revealed cuQuantum SDK. This product is a developmental platform for revitalizing quantum circuits on GPU-accelerated systems.

The report consists of various facets of all the vital players that are operative in the market such as financial performance, product portfolio, present strategic moves, major developments and SWOT. Click Here to Get Absolute Top Companies Development Strategies Summary Report.

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See the rest here:
Global Quantum Computing Market to Gain $667.3 Million and Surge at a CAGR of 30.0% from 2020-2027 Timeframe - Exclusive [193 pages] COVID-19 Impact...

As adults, we often complain about our collective children that they are lazy and entitled, and that they will not be able to fend for themselves, much less run the country.

As a teacher, I can ensure you thats not the case. Oh sure, there are students out there who are entitled and who arent willing to work. But the fact is, the majority of students are going to be just fine.

As a teacher of high school seniors, I would like to highlight a few. I will not name names, so I dont embarrass them. But believe me, these are real students.

Student A will be attending the University of Minnesotas Institute of Technology. He wants to receive advanced degrees in computer science and physics. His goal is to work in the field of quantum computing. This field essentially uses the oddities of quantum mechanics, as well as its extremely small nature, to create computers many orders of magnitude smaller and more powerful than our current computers. Considering he has already taken a number of college courses in high school, including calculus, I have no question he can do whatever he wants to do in the fields of science and computers.

Student B also wants to go into computers, and will be attending North Dakota State University this fall. He also has joined the Army National Guard, and will serve his country, likely in an intelligence capacity, while going to school to earn his degree. He said he is also considering going to law school. I also believe he can do whatever he wants to.

Student C will be headed to South Dakota State University in pursuit of a science degree. Her plan is to become a chiropractor. She also has been taking college courses while in high school, and I have no doubt she will succeed.

I have taught several students who are planning on going into the health care field nursing, physical therapy, exercise and nutrition science. Almost all of them have been working in the local care facility assisting elderly residents while finishing high school. I have no doubt they also will succeed. We need them to, because health care workers are in great need in this area.

I have several students who want to be teachers, elementary school teachers and physical education teachers specifically. I have seen them interact with younger students, and they clearly have a knack for it. They also can succeed.

Several students of mine are planning on doing a trade, such as welding and power line maintenance. Some of these students struggled in the traditional school environment. Im hoping they can become engaged, get through the training, and find jobs. They certainly have the ability to succeed, and we also need them to, because workers in the trades are hard to find.

Does this sound like a bunch of entitled slackers? Id say not. Were they all perfect students in my class? Not exactly. But as I have gotten to know them the last two years, I have come to understand that all of them can make it. Some may struggle for a while. Maybe they just need a few years on their own to understand what is important in this life. But even those students will be OK in the end.

Good luck to the seniors I have been fortunate to get to know this year. I really hope you come back to talk to me in a few years, not to tell me what a great teacher I was, but simply to tell me that youre doing OK.

I have noticed that mask wearing has dropped dramatically in the past couple of weeks. Thats fine, if we can get our vaccine numbers above the 70% mark. Right now, about 53% of Minnesotas residents have been vaccinated. If 70% get vaccinated, we will be considered to have herd immunity, and COVID-19 will have been stopped in its tracks.

For those who are holding out on getting vaccinated because of some Internet conspiracy theory you read, I have four words for you: Give me a break. Do us all a favor and go get the shot.

Joel Myhre is a resident of Fergus Falls.

Go here to see the original:
Students are ready for the next step | Opinion | fergusfallsjournal.com - Fergus Falls Daily Journal

This is one in a series of profiles showcasing some of Harvards stellar graduates.

I am very interested in other peoples stories, said Sukin Hannah Sim. She loves to read historical fiction (recently, Pachinko), almost majored in history (a subject built on stories), and dove into quantum computing after reading a magazine article about the mysterious new field.

Even when Im 60 or 70, Ill only have learned a very little percentage of what there is in life and the universe, Sim said.Theres so much that I dont know, but thats also whats beautiful, right?

Sim, who earned her Ph.D. in chemical physics from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, chose a field rife with the unknown. She develops algorithms and writes software, the complex computational stories that dictate how quantum computers tackle problems such as how to design more secure encryption or bespoke molecules faster than any classical computer.

But in a field full of mystery, Sim is wary of quantum computer scientists hoarding information in their heads or releasing it to only a limited audience. So, while she writes pivotal algorithms, she also pens articles for the public, sharing her knowledge through open-source software codes, podcasts, and YouTube, and mentoring high school students to make sure the next generation of thinkers can continue writing the quantum story where she and others leave off.

Otherwise, Sim said, the knowledge is stuck with you.

Growing up in South Korea, Sim spent more time exploring than reading assigned books or finishing homework. She especially loved building with Lego blocks the origin, she said, of her curiosity about science and complex construction.

Then, when Sim was 8 years old, she and her family moved to Acton, a suburb of Massachusetts, and built a life far from any extended family. Bonded through their shared immigrant experience (Sim often acted as a translator for her mother, who spoke little English), the family grew even closer. (Today, the Sims pandemic pastime is exploring western Massachusetts trails with their little chiweenie named Louie).

By high school, Sim was already attracted to science, especially the relatively new mashup of chemistry and computer science called computational chemistry. As an undergraduate at Wellesley College, she nearly chose to major in history but was more attracted to another kind of power, one that exerts an invisible influence over absolutely everything on Earth: quantum mechanics.

In 2015, during her senior year at Wellesley, Sim heard Aln Aspuru-Guzik, then a professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard, give a talk about his work in quantum computing and machine learning. Sim gushed over his research and, when Aspuru-Guzik invited her to join a lab meeting, she jumped at the opportunity. Later that fall, she joined Harvard and his team.

The transition wasnt easy. Imposter syndrome nagged Sim and, even a year and a half ago, graduation seemed like a hazy hope. But Aspuru-Guzik helped: He told her stories from when he, too, felt like an imposter. She realized that sharing her story with family, friends, her mentor and listening to their stories was critical. Her Ph.D., she said, taught her to prioritize her life.

Science is important but, at the end of the day, so is mental health, Sim said.

In the Aspuru-Guzik lab, Sim worked with another mentor, postdoctoral scholar Peter Johnson, to build a mathematical method to describe particular types of so-called quantum circuits, a set of instructions to manipulate qubits, the basic unit of information in a quantum computer. Johnson, a mathematical physicist, taught Sim the math needed to create their method, and together they published a seminal paper on their findings.

Someone like Peter, for me, was a huge help, Sim said. Now, she hopes to continue what she sees as a flow of mentorship, by guiding those behind her, especially those underrepresented in STEM fields. Recently, she mentored two high school girls who already see quantum mechanics in their future. Shes also had female undergraduate and graduate students in STEM reach out to her for advice. I dont have all the answers, she admits to them; instead, her goal is to make sure they feel like this is a choice that they have; they can enter this field. Theyre qualified.

In mid-April, right after graduating, Sim joined Zapata Computing, a startup founded by a team including two of her mentors, Aspuru-Guzik and Johnson. As a research scientist, shell continue to work on improving algorithms for early stage quantum computers and she hopes to one day help deliver quantum computers their quantum advantage, the pivotal moment when quantum computers will eclipse the classical in both speed and accuracy for certain tasks.

But to get there, Sim said, You need a quantum computer with tens of thousands or even millions of quantum bits (or qubits). Today, one of the best computers has on the order of 100 qubits. In the meantime, she plans to work to get the most of out of current noisy quantum computers. This could still be useful in accelerating the design of new chemicals, materials, and drugs.

Even quantum scientists dont fully understand quantum mechanics yet, which makes translation all the more difficult. Encouraged by Aspuru-Guzik, Sim has worked hard to spread the quantum story: She participated in a TalkPython podcast, shared her quantum origin story in a YouTube series called SuperPosition, and posted an article on Medium to discuss variational quantum algorithms with the general public.

At home, she can talk some shop with her father, who designs computer processors (for classical computers), and her younger sister, a computer scientist.

Scientists have this reputation of overwhelming conversations with formulas and equations and everyones like, OK, youre smart. I get that, Sim said. I want to help break that stereotype. Science is like history. And like any good historian, Sim knows how to tell a good story.

See the article here:
New Ph.D. wants the next generation to pick up the quantum story - Harvard Gazette

The CEOs of Americas biggest banks and financial institutionsBank of America BAC , Citigroup C , J.P. Morgan, Goldman Sachs GS , Morgan Stanley MS , and Wells Fargo WFC are getting a grilling today up on Capitol Hill.Theyll be asked about why theyve made so much money during COVID; and why they arent loaning out more money to help us recover from COVID; as well as getting the usual questions powerful bankers draw from our politicians, both Republicans and Democrats.

But theres one question they should be asked, but wont be: what are they doing to protect their assets and Americas financial industry against future quantum attack?Because getting the big banks to lead the charge in getting America quantum ready is as much a matter of social responsibility as promoting racial equity; and as fundamental to our national security as it is a matter of their bottom lines.

The Colonial Pipeline debacle has revealed how vulnerable our infrastructure is to cyberattack, including a future quantum computer attack.My last column revealed how important it is to use quantum and post-quantum solutions to protect our cyber vulnerabilities, now and in the future.This is even more true of our financial infrastructure, including our leading financial markets, our global payments system, and the Federal Reserve system itself.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 11: The New York Stock Exchange stands in lower Manhattan after global ... [+] stocks fell as concerns mount that rising inflation will prompt central banks to tighten monetary policy on May 11, 2021 in New York City. By mid afternoon the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite had lost 0.6% after falling 2.2% at its session low. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Our preliminary econometric research at the Hudson Institutes Quantum Alliance Initiative indicates that the cost of a quantum computer attack on our financial system would be catastrophicfar more than a successful conventional cyberattack.In February authors Welburn and Strong of the RAND Corporation applied a standard Input-Output (I-O) model to conclude that cyber-attack disrupting JP Morgan Chases business operations for a single day would result in over $3.5 Billion in total losses for the American economy.

Unfortunately, that model ignored the network contagion effects within the financial sector.We estimate that a single quantum attack on one of the five largest financial institutions in the U.S. that disrupts their access to the Fedwire Funds Service payment system would cause a cascading financial failure costing anywhere from $730 Billion to $1.95 Trillion.Indeed, a quantum computer attack could impair nearly 60% of total assets in the banking system due to bank runs and endogenous liquidity traps.

We know from conversations with Treasury Department officials that banks and the Fed work closely with the federal government and Treasury on cybersecurity issues.But despite warnings from the last Office of Financial Research report on the quantum risk to financial stability, theres still a big hole when it comes to confronting the quantum threat.In fact, the big banks interest in quantum computers tends to revolve around how those computers amazing capabilities will be to serve customers and analyze market trends and risks.Thus far only J.P. Morgan and VISA V seem to be thinking about the day when a powerful quantum computer can break the most widespread cryptographic methods currently used in cybersecurity. The fact is, the leadership of all the big banks will be crucial for protecting our economy from a quantum-induced financial meltdown, or worse.

Therefore, its time to propose that the banks join together to create a Quantum Task Force made up of the countrys largest financial institutions, to promote quantum and post-quantum solutions to cyberattacks not just for themselves but throughout the financial system. Recent research from the New York Fed reveals that a cyberattack just one vulnerable mid-sized bank (less than $10 billion in assets, or less than five percent the size of Goldman Sachs) can bring down the whole system. Our preliminary study here at the Hudson Institutes Quantum Alliance Initiative indicates that the result would be catastrophic.

Offsetting a risk of this magnitude should be a national, as well as industry, imperative.Its a problem that wont wait until 2024 when NIST is expected to begin the roll out of its post-quantum cryptography standards. The array of tools currently available, from quantum-resistant algorithms and double encryption to quantum key distribution for the most vital corporate communications, can protect institutions today and tomorrow, against a quantum attack or the conventional threats that are already lurking out there.

It will no longer suffice to claim that the quantum threat is far off out on the horizonten years or morethat we dont have to worry about it before the next shareholders meeting. As my next column will show, the threat may be coming sooner than the experts have predicted.

Fortunately, our biggest financial institutions have the know-how, the resources, and the self-interest to lead us all into the post-quantum era.It is no exaggeration to say that none of us will be truly safe, until they are.

Originally posted here:
Getting The Big Banks To Confront The Quantum Challenge - Forbes