Cryptographic algorithms are what keep us safe online, protect our privacy, and keep our information safe.
But many experts fear that quantum computers could one day break these algorithms, leaving us open to attacks from hackers and fraudsters. And these quantum computers may be ready sooner than many think.
That’s why serious work is underway to develop new types of algorithms that are robust to even the most powerful quantum computer we can imagine. Read our new reporter Tammy Xu’s full story on how quantum-stable algorithms are being developed and what’s next.
This is part of Tech Review Explains: where our writers untangle the complex, messy world of technology to help you better understand what’s next. Check out our other clever explanations here.
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A must read
I’ve combed the web to find the funniest/important/scary/interesting tech stories for you today.
1 Google loses EU antitrust challenge
It was fined more than €4 billion after it was found to have abused its dominance in the Android system. (Reuters)
+ The company failed to appeal the allegation, which was first announced in 2018. (The Verge)
+ South Korea has fined Google and Facebook for privacy violations. (FT$)
2 The US economy is not out of the woods yet
Inflation did not fall as expected by investors. (Economist $)
3 Someone digs dirt on a Twitter whistleblower
Whoever is behind it is willing to pay, but his former colleagues are keeping schtum. (New Yorker $)
+ Pejter “Maj” Zatko’s Senate testimony does not reflect Twitter in a good light. (WP$)
+ In effect, it’s rekindled the senators’ appetite for tighter regulation. (Bloomberg $)
4 What do robotic surgeons and autonomous cars have in common
We are still unwilling to trust them with life or death decisions. (Knowable magazine)
+ High-precision surgery with the help of a robot passed the first tests on people. (MIT Technology Review)
5 Hard Lessons from the California Wildfires
And energy companies played a role in their aggravation. (vox)
+ Gene-edited crops could benefit from severe drought in Europe. (Wired $)
6 Brain scans cannot diagnose mental illness
However, some scientists hope that they can help in recovery. (Slate $)
+ A quest to find out if mutations in our brains affect mental health. (MIT Technology Review)
7 Inside the memeification of the culture wars
Online trads mobilized huge groups to revolt. (Atlantic dollar)
8 Elon Musk’s biggest fans are moving to Texas 🌵
To get as close to the SpaceX action as possible. (The Verge)
+ No one else at SpaceX can access Musk’s email. (The Verge)
9 How to turn a personal tragedy into content
Eva Benefield’s t-shirt business is thriving amid her dark past. (Input)
10 America is making the moon a priority again 🌕
Despite the difficulty of sending people there. (New Scientist $)
+ Ukrainian astronomers continue to discover many UFOs. (motherboard)
Quote of the day
