Passwords have been our first-line of defence protecting our bank accounts, government databases, military communications, hospitals, businesses and personal information.
We have trusted that modern computers would take thousands, if not millions, of years to crack the encryption protecting these systems. But there is a new technology that will change everything. It is called “quantum computing”.
Some experts believe it has the potential to become the most powerful technological development since the invention of the internet.
Unlike conventional computers, which process information using bits represented by either a zero or a 1, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This allows them to perform certain calculations at speeds unimaginable with today’s computers.
The implications are enormous. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could potentially break many of the encryption systems currently used to secure financial transactions, government records, military communications and online identities. In simple terms, the passwords and security systems that protect much of the digital world today will very soon become obsolete.
For Zimbabwe, this is a serious concern. The country is rapidly embracing digital technologies. Mobile banking, online government services, digital payments, cloud computing and electronic records are becoming increasingly common. Every day, millions of dollars move through digital platforms, while sensitive information is stored electronically. Banks, telecommunications companies and government departments rely heavily on encryption technologies developed decades ago. While these systems remain secure against today’s computers, they may not be secure against tomorrow’s quantum machines.
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Cybersecurity experts around the world are already developing what is known as “quantum-resistant” encryption to prepare for this future threat.
Unfortunately, many developing nations are being left behind in this transition. Wealthy countries are investing billions of dollars into quantum research and post-quantum cybersecurity. The United States, China, the United Kingdom and members of the European Union are racing to secure strategic advantages in this new technological frontier.
Zimbabwe cannot afford to watch from the sidelines. Universities should begin introducing quantum computing concepts into their science and engineering programmes. Government agencies responsible for cybersecurity should start assessing vulnerabilities in critical national infrastructure. Financial institutions should begin preparing long-term migration plans towards quantum-resistant security systems.
At the same time, Zimbabwe must recognise that quantum computing presents opportunities as well as risks.
Quantum technology could revolutionise medicine, agriculture, logistics, weather forecasting, mining exploration and scientific research. Countries that invest early may benefit from breakthroughs that drive economic growth for decades.
History teaches us that technological revolutions do not wait for those who are unprepared. Nations that embraced electricity, telecommunications and the internet early gained significant economic advantages. Those that delayed struggled to catch up.
The quantum revolution may still be years away from widespread deployment, but the decisions made today will determine who benefits tomorrow.
Zimbabwe has a choice. It can view quantum computing as a problem for richer nations or it can recognise it as the next great technological transformation and begin preparing now.
The system that could one day break every password on earth is no longer science fiction. It is being built today. The real question is whether Zimbabwe is ready for the world that follows.
Mutisi is a local commentator. — +263772278161.