Quantum Computing Threat to Encryption Is Closer Than Expected, Warns Google

Advances in quantum computing could render traditional encryption obsolete by 2029, Google has warned, with a timeline that emphasises urgency for migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The piece notes that store-now-decrypt-later attacks remain a present threat, as actors harvest data now to unlock it once quantum power advances.

It adds that organisations face a growing pressure from industry voices and timelines, with the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre recommending preparation for post-quantum cryptography by 2035, while the US NSA has set a 2033 target for resilience and Microsoft also aims for 2033. To counter the potential risk, Google’s upcoming Android 17 will feature PQC digital signature protection using ML-DSA, aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Mark Pecen, Chair of the ETSI Technical Committee on Quantum Technologies, commented that Google’s earlier deadline nudges the industry to treat post-quantum migration as an immediate operational priority rather than a future compliance exercise.