Research and development of quantum computers continues to grow at a rapid pace. The U.S. government alone spent more than $800 million on quantum information science (QIS) research in 2022. The promise of quantum computers is substantial – they will be able to solve certain problems that are classically intractable, meaning a conventional computer cannot complete the calculations within human-usable timescales. Given this computational power, there is growing discussion surrounding the cyber threats quantum computers may pose in the future. For instance, Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has identified the transition to post-quantum encryption as a priority to ensure cyber resilience. There is very little discussion, however, on how we will protect quantum computers in the future. If quantum computers are to become such valuable assets, it is reasonable to project that they will eventually be the target of malicious activity.
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