Google warns quantum computers threaten current encryption systems
Governments and organisations urged to accelerate preparations for a future when large-scale quantum computers could break current public-key encryption.
Google has warned that quantum computers will soon break widely used public-key cryptosystems and said adversaries are likely already collecting encrypted data to decrypt later.
The tech giant said it has been preparing for a post-quantum world since 2016 by running experiments with post-quantum cryptography, deploying new capabilities in its products and publishing threat models and technical papers.
America's National Institute of Standards & Technology announced the first set of post-quantum cryptography standards in 2024.
Google said it focuses on "crypto agility", allowing it to update or replace cryptographic algorithms without disrupting services.
The company outlined two internal priorities: researching and updating post-quantum cryptography timelines, and completing migrations to new algorithms.
It said these commitments reflect its long-term investment in preserving the integrity of the digital economy.
Google set out five recommendations for policymakers to prepare for the quantum threat.
It urged governments to drive society-wide momentum for protecting critical infrastructure from quantum attacks.
The company said artificial intelligence systems should be built with post-quantum cryptography in mind from the outset.
It called for reduced global fragmentation by aligning on international standards for post-quantum cryptography.
Google recommended promoting cloud-first modernization to ease the transition to quantum-resistant encryption.
The company said policymakers should maintain ongoing dialogue with experts to avoid strategic surprise as quantum computing advances.
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The warning comes as technology companies and governments race to develop quantum-resistant encryption before quantum computers become powerful enough to break current systems.
Security experts have described the "store now, decrypt later" threat as a significant risk, particularly for sensitive government and commercial data that needs to remain secure for decades.
The Recap
- Google urges action to secure systems against quantum-enabled decryption.
- NIST issued initial post-quantum standards, and Google began work in 2016.
- Company published five policy recommendations for governments and institutions.
