Physics-Inspired Encryption Aims to Secure Data Against Quantum Threats and Future Cyber Attacks

In our hyper-connected world, encrypted communications are essential for everyday activities such as online shopping, digital signatures, banking, and fitness tracking. However, current encryption methods are under severe pressure. Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, and our networks, interwoven with cloud services and third-party platforms, are increasingly vulnerable. For instance, JP Morgan fends off 45 billion hacking attempts daily, highlighting the extent of the threat. The most significant looming danger is Y2Q or Q-Day, the moment when quantum computers render most existing encryption methods obsolete. A quantum computer could theoretically break RSA-2048 encryption, which underpins internet security, in a matter of days, whereas today's fastest supercomputers would take millennia. To counter these threats, a multidisciplinary research team led by Boston University is developing a physics-inspired approach to data security and privacy. This initiative involves collaborators from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida, and their recent paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences outlines key concepts driving their innovative cryptography methods. Principal investigator Andrei Ruckenstein, a BU Distinguished Professor of Physics, emphasizes the need for a paradigm shift in data security. "The most pressing and complex challenges in areas like computational capability and data security cannot be addressed with current methods," he states. "Our work combines physics, computer science, and mathematics to introduce new, robust capabilities." Quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum superposition and entanglement, allowing it to explore many possibilities simultaneously. This makes quantum computers exceptionally powerful for certain tasks, including breaking traditional encryption. The BU-led project, Encrypted Operator Computing (EOC), aims to create a method for performing computations directly on encrypted data, a capability often referred to as the "holy grail" of cryptography. Unlike Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), which is elegant but impractical for large-scale applications, EOC is designed to be scalable and practical. One of the core innovations in EOC is a dynamic process to obfuscate, or hide, computational circuits by rearranging and randomizing their gates. This process maintains the circuit's functionality while enhancing its complexity, akin to how thermodynamic entropy increases randomness and complexity in a physical system. "By applying thermodynamic principles, we can scramble information thoroughly, making it virtually impossible to reverse-engineer," explains Claudio Chamon, a BU professor of physics. EOC's ability to protect data during use is particularly crucial for data-intensive applications like AI training models, which currently expose raw data during processing. This exposure not only compromises privacy but also reduces processing efficiency and scalability. EOC addresses these issues by enabling data manipulation and analysis without revealing the underlying information, thus creating a secure and efficient environment for tasks such as blockchain transactions, medical AI, and cloud services. The project aims to transform these theoretical concepts into practical tools by integrating physics insights with advanced cryptography and pure mathematics. This convergent research approach leverages specialized knowledge from various fields to accelerate performance and make secure, privacy-preserving computing widely accessible. "Combining expertise from diverse disciplines allows us to tackle problems from multiple angles, revealing connections that would be invisible otherwise," notes Mucciolo, a physics professor at UCF. Timothy Riley, a mathematics professor at Cornell, underscores the collaborative nature of the project, describing it as a "rare and precious opportunity" that fosters interdisciplinary understanding and innovation. The BU team received significant support from the Hariri Institute's Quantum Convergence Focused Research Program, which promotes cross-disciplinary collaboration on quantum science and engineering. Industry insiders are optimistic about the potential of EOC. They believe that this physics-inspired method could revolutionize data security, providing robust protection against both classical and quantum attacks. Moreover, it could enhance public trust in AI systems and unlock new opportunities for socially responsible data innovation. Yannis Paschalidis, a BU College of Engineering Distinguished Professor and director of the Hariri Institute, highlights the importance of breaking down silos in research. "Solving complex security challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach, and this project demonstrates how convergent research can drive real-world impact and open new technological frontiers." Boston University, known for its cutting-edge research in science and technology, houses the Hariri Institute, a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration. The institute's focus on quantum science and engineering aligns with the EOC project's goals, supporting the development of future-ready encryption methods that can withstand the rise of quantum computing and evolving cyber threats.