Quantum computers promise mathematical superpowers

Jul 29th 2026|13 min read

AS THEY ZIP across the internet, passwords, bank transfers, emails and the like are protected from prying eyes by encryption. But no one is quite sure how reliable the technology is. Despite decades of trying, no-one has found a feasible way to break it. But at the same time, no-one has been able to prove such a method does not exist. In principle, a mathematician could have a brainwave tomorrow and bring the entire edifice of e-commerce—not to mention personal privacy—crashing down.