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# Your encrypted data may already be compromised. "Harvest now, decrypt later" means quantum computers

**[Coffee \+ Software](https://daily.dev/sources/coffee-software)** · 1 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments

## Summary

A casual discussion touches on the 'harvest now, decrypt later' threat model, where adversaries capture encrypted network traffic today with the expectation that future quantum computers will be able to break current encryption algorithms and retroactively decrypt the stored data.

## Full article

daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMWTa_IeR_4>

## Questions this post answers

### What does harvest now, decrypt later mean for encrypted data?

It refers to adversaries capturing and storing encrypted network traffic today, even without being able to decrypt it immediately, betting that future quantum computers will be able to break current encryption algorithms. Once such quantum capability exists, the previously harvested data can be decrypted retroactively, exposing information that was assumed safe at the time it was intercepted.

_Developers weighing post-quantum migration timelines can follow encryption and security coverage on daily.dev._

## Similar posts on daily.dev

- [‘Harvest now, decipher later’: The quantum threat few are preparing for](https://daily.dev/posts/harvest-now-decipher-later-the-quantum-threat-few-are-preparing-for-lzhdrjp4j) · CSO Online · 0 upvotes · 0 comments
- [Harvest Now, Decrypt Later: The Threat to Key Exchange – Quantum Series, Part 2](https://daily.dev/posts/harvest-now-decrypt-later-the-threat-to-key-exchange-quantum-series-part-2-eadei5fjg) · Cisco · 0 upvotes · 0 comments
- [Quantum Cybersecurity Explained: Preparing for Quantum Computing](https://daily.dev/posts/quantum-cybersecurity-explained-preparing-for-quantum-computing-xnxg5zqkl) · The Quantum Insider · 0 upvotes · 0 comments

---

Tags: [#quantum-computing](https://daily.dev/tags/quantum-computing), [#encryption](https://daily.dev/tags/encryption)

[View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/your-encrypted-data-may-already-be-compromised-harvest-now-decrypt-later-means-quantum-computers-v6x97i3ah)

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