BSides Canberra is a hacker conference for those focused on the joy of discovery, inner workings, and novel approaches to learning. In this International Year of Quantum, BSides Canberra will feature a talk by Dr. Rajiv Shah examining when a quantum computer will be able to crack modern encryption and what we should do about it.

One of Australia’s leading conferences for cybersecurity experts. Ever since Peter Shor published his famous algorithm in 1994, there has been excitement about how a hypothetical quantum computer could break the commonly used encryption methods that we routinely rely upon today. In the last few years, there has been a crescendo of announcements about developments in quantum computing, and also many commentators warning darkly of an imminent apocalypse. However, the world still seems to keep going.

This talk will look at how quantum computers work and why this matters for breaking encryption. This will include what is needed to scale up current quantum hardware, as well as potential solutions, both quantum and classical. Along the way, we will expose some common myths, examine the truth behind some of the headlines you may have seen, and leave the audience with pragmatic, actionable advice to incorporate into their work.