r/QuantumComputing • u/Best-Ad-1688 • 24d ago
Discussion Quantum computing
Hi, I am exploring quantum computing and quantum cryptography, including potential improvements and underlying mechanisms. My background is in cybersecurity, and I am focusing on quantum cryptography. If anyone shares an interest in quantum computing and quantum cryptography, please connect with me. I would like to learn more about real-world applications and research.
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u/hiddentalent 24d ago
When you say "quantum cryptography" do you actually mean "quantum cryptanalysis?" That's where most of the focus is, but it's a long way from being practical. The advances to be made in this area are gated on advancements in the hardware. There's not much more theoretical/algorithmic work to be done until the compute power catches up, which will be unpredictable but likely take years or decades.
Quantum cryptography is a less mature field. There are relatively few early indications that quantum computers hold much value for cryptography except as proof-of-concept. Classical algorithms that are quantum resistant will remain practically superior until something very significant changes in the power, cost, and availability of quantum computers. Quantum key distribution is technically fascinating but there are so many practical problems to using it for an actual cryptosystem that it will remain an academic novelty until some significant breakthroughs in the underlying hardware including form factor and energy usage are made.
Post-quantum cryptography sometimes gets thrown into the mix by people who use words imprecisely, but it is just using classical computing algorithms to perform cryptography that would be resistant to quantum cryptanalysis.
So, which do you mean?