The Sword and Laser discussion

I work at a university and had the opportunity to hear a presentation by a renowned political scientist and cybersecurity expert. He said the biggest threat to our privacy and security will be quantum computing. I've read a few novels where quantum computing has been used for space travel or time travel or creation of multiverses, but would be interested to know if there are any near-future novels or maybe post-apocalyptic novels in which quantum computing has affected cybersecurity systems. Thanks!

As a information security professor (I don't consider myself an expert) I'm skeptical of that claim. While it's a valid concern I don't think it's going to be the biggest threat. People will still hold that title for years to come. Here's a good article on the subject: https://www.cryptomathic.com/news-eve...

I don't know if Neal Stephenson has an quantum computing stories, but Snow Crash comes to mind. Next month's read. Zeroes may also fit your request. Here's Stephenson's Goodread page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Robyn wrote: "I work at a university and had the opportunity to hear a presentation by a renowned political scientist and cybersecurity expert. He said the biggest threat to our privacy and security will be quan..."

After On by Rob Reid might be what you're looking for. A new social network enabled by a quantum computer starts to influence people to create the world it wants.

Robyn wrote: "I work at a university and had the opportunity to hear a presentation by a renowned political scientist and cybersecurity expert. He said the biggest threat to our privacy and security will be quan..."

Wouldn’t quantum computing allow for unbreakable codes? A QC against a current computer would be less like David v. Goliath and more like David v. a tank battalion, but QC v. QC would be a perpetual stalemate.

Whoever gets a functional QC first will be able to pillage the world’s databases at will, so that’s a threat, but it still seems years away.

I think i may have spoiled something down there. But then, just mentioning a book in this discussion probably does that.



I'm suggesting Halting State. It's plot weaves around a Scotland's/England's/EU's - i forgot the scale - national security war with some external threat. Of course there are some quantum computers involved).

The book starts with an investigation of a theft in an online game, which gathers our 3 main characters together. We follow them as the problem becomes more and more global.

I can't say that the QC is given a lot of explanation - it plays a role only in a single scene or so, but the idea of security and hacking persists from start to end. Apart from that, it's mostly about spy-games and national crisises. With an additional geekiness in form of online games and LARPGs.

I'm suggesting Halting State. Its plot weaves around a Sc..."

Great suggestion. Quite some time back this group read the sequel, Rule 34, at the suggestion of Corey Doctorow, as I recall. Thought at the time Halting State would have been the stronger choice.

Trike wrote: "Robyn wrote: "I work at a university and had the opportunity to hear a presentation by a renowned political scientist and cybersecurity expert. He said the biggest threat to our privacy and securit..."


Even better, a Q C allows for entangled communication. If someone else eavesdrops on the message it is effectively destroyed.. You don’t need the same type of encryption.

Charles wrote: "As a information security professor (I don't consider myself an expert) I'm skeptical of that claim. While it's a valid concern I don't think it's going to be the biggest threat. People will still ..."

QC, if working as theoretically possible, can do prime factorisation of stupidly big numbers effectively instantly. All modern computing cryptography is based on the fact that division is hard and you can’t quickly (i..e in your life time) do the factorisation.

Iain wrote: "Charles wrote: "As a information security professor (I don't consider myself an expert) I'm skeptical of that claim. While it's a valid concern I don't think it's going to be the biggest threat. Pe..."
There are already QC proof coding schemes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-qu...