Every day, we rely on digital transactions and communications, making the security of our data more crucial than ever. With cyberattacks becoming increasingly sophisticated, protecting encrypted data isn’t just important—it’s essential. And while companies like JP Morgan fend off billions of hacking attempts, there’s a growing concern: quantum computing. This technology could reduce tasks that currently take supercomputers millennia to mere days, potentially rendering existing encryption obsolete.
We might not know exactly when quantum computers will outpace classical encryption, but the need to bolster our security measures is clear. Cybercriminals are already collecting encrypted data today, planning to crack it when quantum power hits the mainstream. That’s why the push for new, more robust methods isn’t just technological—it’s a safeguard for our digital way of life.
Enter the work of a multidisciplinary team led by Boston University. In collaboration with experts from Cornell and the University of Central Florida, they’ve developed a physics-based approach to data security. Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, introduces Encrypted Operator Computing (EOC). In simple terms, EOC lets you compute on data without exposing the underlying information, combining the strengths of physics, computer science, and mathematics.
One of the challenges with traditional encryption, developed over half a century ago, is that it wasn’t designed for our current digital demands—or for the quantum future. Most existing methods secure data at rest or in transit, but when data is being used, it often needs to be decrypted, leaving it open to attack. The new EOC framework, inspired by quantum principles such as superposition and entanglement, is built to be resilient against both conventional and quantum threats. Think of it as a way to scramble the inner workings of a computation so effectively that reverse engineering becomes nearly impossible.
This approach has the added benefit of potentially enhancing public trust in AI systems and driving data-driven innovation. Experts like BU’s Professor Andrei Ruckenstein and physics professor Claudio Chamon are exploring the nuances of this method, from understanding the thermodynamics of circuit complexity to designing hardware capable of running these secure operations efficiently. It’s a tangible step forward in ensuring that as our computational landscape evolves, so too does our ability to protect it.
For anyone who’s ever worried about the security of their personal data, these advancements offer some reassurance. By breaking down the barriers between disciplines, the team is not only addressing today’s concerns but also laying the groundwork for a safer digital future.
