Quantum computers near 2029 threaten everyday encryption, triggering a looming cyber crisis

Experts warn that practical quantum computers could crack widely used encryption by around 2029, shrinking the window to secure data and forcing governments and companies to accelerate the adoption of post-quantum cryptography and related defenses. The risk includes harvest-now, decrypt-later attacks, potential threats to financial systems and health devices, and the reality that cryptographic migrations can take 10–20 years even with existing standards (NIST post-quantum algorithms) and urgency from guidance aiming for 2035. While some safeguards exist, broad, timely migration remains uncertain, underscoring the need for proactive upgrades to preserve data security in the quantum era.