Studies: Quantum Computers Could Hack all Encryption by 2029
The Spin
Narrative A
Quantum computers could crack today's encryption far sooner than anyone expected, and the window to act is closing fast. Bank cards, push notifications, cryptocurrencies and virtually every wireless device rely on 256-bit security that may require as few as 10,000 qubits to break — a threshold now within reach. Waiting for certainty means arriving too late, because harvest-now-decrypt-later attacks are already stockpiling sensitive data for future decryption.
Narrative B
The quantum threat is real, but so is the readiness. Google's 2029 PQC migration timeline proves the industry is already moving with purpose and precision. Breakthroughs in quantum error correction are slashing the physical qubit overhead needed for fault-tolerant systems, and Android 17 is shipping ML-DSA digital signature protection aligned with NIST standards right now. The path to a quantum-safe future isn't a distant hope, with accelerating buildout already embedded in the world's biggest tech roadmaps.