Google warns quantum computing could endanger current internet encryption by 2029

Google has warned that the risk of a so‑called ‘quantum apocalypse’—the moment when quantum computers become powerful enough to crack modern encryption—may arrive sooner than expected. The company announced that rapid advances in quantum computing hardware and control systems have accelerated the timeline for potential security threats. At present, data on the internet is protected by encryption based on extremely complex mathematical problems that are practically impossible for today’s classical computers to solve. However, quantum computers function in an entirely different way, using qubits and quantum states to process information exponentially faster. Such capabilities could allow them to break the encryption methods that currently safeguard everything from private conversations to classified government data.

Experts have long highlighted a ‘store‑now, decrypt‑later’ danger, in which attackers steal encrypted information today to decrypt it when quantum hardware becomes capable—turning previously secure data into a future liability. To counter this, researchers are developing ‘post‑quantum cryptography’ (PQC), a new class of algorithms designed to withstand quantum attacks. Google says it plans to complete its transition to PQC by 2029, encouraging the wider industry to follow suit. The company emphasised its responsibility to lead both in quantum innovation and in setting a clear, ambitious timeline for protection, hoping to spur global cooperation in strengthening digital infrastructure before the quantum era fully arrives.