Apple Boosts Messaging Security to Fend Off Quantum Attacks

Apple Inc. is upgrading the security of its iMessage app, aiming to fend off a looming future threat: advanced quantum computing attacks.

The changes will be part of a new system called PQ3, Apple said on Wednesday. It’s a more advanced type of encryption that could thwart attacks from quantum computers — still-nascent technology that can perform calculations exponentially faster than traditional machines.

The fear is that these computers could someday have the power and mathematical capabilities to break through today’s tools for encrypting messages. The new security protocol has already been added to beta versions of iOS 17.4, iPadOS ...