NSA makes ‘quantum’ leap on encryption

The US National Security Agency is making strides towards building a “quantum computer” that could break nearly any kind of encryption, The Washington Post has reported.

The newspaper said leaked documents from fugitive ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden indicate the computer would allow the secret intelligence agency to break encryption used to protect banking, medical, business, and government records around the world.

Quantum computing has been a goal among commercial firms such as IBM because it could harness the power of atoms and molecules, vastly increasing speed and security of computers and other devices.