Quantum Computers Face New Security Risk: Hackers Could Tamper with Results Without Detection
As quantum computing becomes more powerful and accessible, researchers have uncovered a critical security flaw: hackers could potentially tamper with the output of quantum programs—without anyone realizing it.
A new study highlights how shared access to quantum computers, which is standard practice due to their high cost and limited availability, may open the door to cyberattacks that silently compromise the accuracy of results. This threat, described as “vandalism” of quantum computing tasks, could affect researchers, institutions, or businesses relying on shared quantum systems for breakthroughs in science, cryptography, and advanced computation.
While traditional supercomputers also allow multiple users to run programs simultaneously, they benefit from decades of developed security protocols that keep operations isolated and secure. Quantum computers, on the other hand, are still in the early stages of development, and their security features haven’t caught up with the growing demand and complexity of shared use.
As quantum machines continue to scale up—allowing for more users and more sophisticated tasks—the potential for malicious interference increases. Experts say that unless hardware manufacturers and developers act quickly to strengthen safeguards, this emerging threat could hinder the reliability and credibility of quantum computing.
The good news? Researchers have also proposed solutions that could address the flaw, though implementing these fixes may require adjustments in how future quantum systems are built and managed. The findings serve as a wake-up call for the industry to prioritize security alongside performance as quantum computing inches closer to mainstream use.