Google is drastically shortening its deadline for preparing for Q Day, the moment when quantum computers can break public-key cryptography algorithms that secure sensitive data. By 2029, Google aims to be ready, urging others to adopt post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms.
Heather Adkins, Google’s VP of Security Engineering, and Sophie Schmieg, a Senior Cryptography Engineer, emphasized the need for urgency and clarity. 'As pioneers in both quantum and PQC, it’s our responsibility to lead by example,' they wrote.
Q Day has been a looming threat since the 1990s when mathematician Peter Shor demonstrated that quantum computers could break RSA encryption much faster than classical computers. Estimates for the arrival of Q Day have varied, but recent projections suggest it could happen with just 20 million physical qubits, down from earlier estimates of a billion.
Google’s accelerated timeline underscores the urgent need for industries to transition to PQC to protect their data.