Is it possible for today’s quantum computers to crack the security codes used by satellites?
The reality is that even if a quantum computer could run the relevant algorithm to crack satellite data transmissions, the computational overhead (error correction etc.) and the time required would make real-time attacks on satellite communications infeasible with today’s technology. Moreover, the nature of satellite communications is that they involve real-time data streams, and so any quantum attacks would require pre-computation or interception over extended periods, which is way too logistically challenging by today’s standards.
Still, top-end satellites systems are already adopting quantum-resistant algorithms, and tamper-resistant hardware or restricted access to ground stations, which add additional hurdles beyond cryptographic vulnerabilities.
However, with the pace of technology and rapid advances in AI and computing processing power, today’s status quo may not be the case in one, or five years time, and private firms and government agencies are now war-gaming this prospect, and treating it as an inevitability…
The Conversation reports…
Satellites are the invisible backbone of modern life. They guide airplanes, help us find our way with GPS, deliver TV and internet, and even help emergency services respond to disasters. But a new kind of computer – quantum computers – could put all of this at risk.
Quantum computers are not just faster versions of today’s computers. They work in a completely different way, using the peculiar rules of quantum physics. While they have not yet reached their full capabilities, quantum computers are expected to be game changing provided that the technological hurdles can be overcome.
For example, they are expected to be able to solve certain mathematical problems that would take classical computers millions of years. In some cases, quantum computers could solve such difficult problems in just seconds or minutes.
It’s very difficult to predict exactly when practical quantum computers will become available. However, progress is being made both in the design of more powerful quantum processors and in overcoming other hurdles to their development.
The new capabilities presented by quantum computers could help push forward areas such as science and medicine. For example, they could carry out the complex simulations needed to design new materials and more effective drugs. They could also improve our simulations of the Earth’s future climate.
However, there’s a catch: quantum computers could also break the codes that keep our digital world safe.
Experts around the world are working urgently to develop new kinds of digital “locks” that can’t be cracked by quantum computers – an area known as “post-quantum cryptography”. These new codes are being tested and approved by international bodies, while governments are starting to plan how to upgrade everything from satellites to bank systems.
The digital locks that protect satellite signals, bank accounts and private messages are based on mathematical puzzles that regular computers can’t solve quickly. Quantum computers, however, would be able to crack these puzzles with ease.
You might think that satellites are safe because they’re far away and hard to reach. But as the technology required to attack them becomes cheaper and more widely available, satellites are becoming targets for hackers and hostile governments.
Today, it’s possible for skilled attackers to intercept satellite signals, or try to send fake commands.
Staying ahead of the curve
Most satellites are designed to last for decades. This means the security systems we put in place now need to be strong enough to withstand not just today’s threats but tomorrow’s as well – including the threat from quantum computers…
Continue this analysis at The Conversation
READ MORE SCI-TECH NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Sci-Tech Files
SUPPORT OUR INDEPENDENT MEDIA PLATFORM – BECOME A MEMBER @21WIRE.TV
VISIT OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL
