It is true that quantum computers could potentially break current encryption algorithms exponentially faster than even the best non-quantum machines can1. This means that data thieves who eavesdrop on Internet traffic could already be accumulating encrypted data, which they could unlock once quantum computers become available.

However, there are efforts being made to safeguard against this. For example, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has chosen the first group of encryption tools that are designed to withstand the assault of a future quantum computer. These post-quantum algorithms seem impervious to attack. Additionally, quantum-based tools can be used to detect the presence of attackers on a link when distributing the encryption key through a protocol known as quantum key distribution (QKD).
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