The coming quantum computer revolution promises all manner of staggering accomplishments, with these mysterious devices set to bring the sheer spookiness of quantum mechanics to the forefront. These new generation of machines are, among other things, expected to revolutionize drug research, manufacturing, financial modeling, and cybersecurity. In the case of the latter, researchers claimed in 2024 to have used a quantum computer to break a form of encryption known as RSA.

Data encryption is widely used to protect sensitive data sent across the internet. Encryption involves concealing that data by converting it to seemingly random information. In order to unscramble the encryption, a cryptographic key is required, which essentially comprises a set of mathematical values that only the sender and recipient of encrypted data possess, allowing only those parties to decrypt it.