KETS Quantum Security reacts to Salt Typhoon cyber attacks

Author: Simon Rowley

On the back of the Salt Typhoon cyber attacks, Chris Erven, CEO & Co-Founder of KETS Quantum Security, comments on the potential threat of China developing a quantum computer and the danger for telecommunications companies.

Chris takes up the story: “This is a fully global threat. Every single telco should be considering their cyber defences in the wake of the Salt Typhoon attacks.

“China is making some of the largest investments in quantum computing, pumping in billions of dollars into research and development in the hope of being the first to create a large-scale, cryptographically relevant machine. And although they may be a few years away from being fully operational, we know a quantum computer will be capable of breaking all traditional cyber defences we currently use. So they, and others, are actively harvesting now, to decrypt later.

“Telcos are particularly vulnerable since they provide the communication services for major enterprises and many governments, so these organisations should be the first to upgrade to quantum-safe methods, including a defence in depth approach with quantum key distribution and post quantum algorithms.

“Adding to the danger, many telcos are moving to software-defined networks which use software-based controllers to manage the underlying network infrastructure rather than dedicated and more restricted hardware devices. This makes them particularly vulnerable because if an adversary gets into the management plane of a telco’s SDN, they will have complete control of that network; whereas in the past, the access would have been much more limited. We really are talking about taking down the UK’s national telecommunications network.

“Despite warning bells being raised for the last decade, Q Day is rapidly approaching, and telcos have to prepare now to avoid a catastrophic data breach. Thankfully, telcos – like BT and SK Telecom – are actively working to upgrade their systems to make them quantum-safe in the future. However, this transition needs to happen even quicker, and the Salt Typhoon attacks serve as a timely reminder that robust cyber defences are not a ‘nice to have’ – they are essential to protecting our way of living.”