The Guardian reports that Chinese threat actors are poised to target encrypted datasets, including intelligence data, as well as pharmaceutical, material, and chemical science research, for future decryption using quantum computers.
"Encrypted data with intelligence longevity, like biometric markers, covert intelligence officer and source identities, social security numbers, and weapons' designs, may be increasingly stolen under the expectation that they can eventually be decrypted," said the Booz Allen Hamilton report.
While researchers noted that quantum computing has "very small" odds of being able to crack current encryption techniques prior to 2030, China has been making strides in quantum-related research and development and is expected to overtake the U.S. and Europe.
"Although quantum computers’ current abilities are more demonstrative than immediately useful, their trajectory suggests that in the coming decades quantum computers will likely revolutionize numerous industries — from pharmaceuticals to materials science — and eventually undermine all popular current public-key encryption methods," the report added.
