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Technology

Encryption upgrade in 2024 will keep data safe from quantum computers

We probably don't need to worry about quantum computers being able to break encryption in 2024, but cryptographers are planning a security upgrade just in case

By Matthew Sparkes

31 December 2023

Post-quantum cryptography will keep your data secure

Just_Super/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Quantum computers won’t be able to break encryption tools in 2024, but that hasn’t stopped security experts preparing for a time when quantum devices will be powerful enough to crack the algorithms that keep data safe – and the coming year will see the end of this lengthy process.

Although it is unclear when encryption-busting quantum computers will emerge, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been running a project since 2012 to standardise…

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