WSU mathematicians have designed an encryption code capable of fending off the phenomenal hacking power of a quantum computer. Using high-level number theory and cryptography, the researchers reworked an infamous old cipher called the knapsack code to create an online security system better prepared for future demands.
Quantum computers operate on the subatomic level and theoretically provide processing power that is millions, if not billions, of times faster than silicon-based computers. Several companies are in the race to develop quantum computers including Google.
Internet security is no match for a quantum computer, said Nathan Hamlin, instructor and director of the WSU Math Learning Center. That could spell future trouble for online transactions ranging from buying a book on Amazon to simply sending an email.