‘It’s a real shock’: quantum-computing breakthroughs pose imminent risks to cybersecurity

Two independent studies — a white paper from Google and a preprint from Caltech spin-off Oratomic — suggest quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards could arrive before 2030, far sooner than previously expected. Oratomic's analysis shows that cracking P-256 encryption (widely used in TLS, cryptocurrencies, and financial systems) may require as few as 10,000 qubits, dramatically lower than the millions previously assumed. The findings have alarmed cryptographers, security researchers, and financial institutions, with Cloudflare stating it is 'very concerned.' The techniques leverage trapped-atom quantum hardware combined with recent advances in quantum error correction and software optimization.