Shor's algorithm

Q‑Day Explained: How Quantum Computing Threatens Today’s Cryptography

Q‑Day Explained: How Quantum Computing Threatens Today’s Cryptography

Q-Day, the day a quantum computer will be powerful enough to break current encryption standards, is an inevitable threat. This summary explains how quantum algorithms like Shor’s and Grover’s will compromise both asymmetric and symmetric cryptography, the severe consequences for data confidentiality and digital trust, and why the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" attack vector makes immediate migration to post-quantum cryptography a critical priority for all organizations.

After Q-Day: Quantum Applications at Scale • Matthew Keesan • YOW! 2025

After Q-Day: Quantum Applications at Scale • Matthew Keesan • YOW! 2025

Matthew Keesan from IonQ discusses the imminent arrival of "Q-Day"—the moment quantum computers will break current public-key encryption. He explains the fundamentals of quantum computing, including superposition and entanglement, details the hardware roadmap that places this threat within the decade, and explores the promising applications of this new computing paradigm in AI, drug discovery, and materials science, issuing a call to action for software engineers to get involved.