Surfshark Quantum Resistant
To guard against the potential threat of high-speed quantum decryption, cybersecurity company Surfshark recently added post-quantum protection to its offerings. According to a recent study, just 8% of widely used mobile applications presently have quantum-resistant technology. This proactive solution closes a big security gap. While messaging platforms are the most advanced in their adoption of these standards, industries like banking and retail are still woefully unprepared for the change. Experts caution that the use of post-quantum encryption is crucial for long-term digital privacy since hackers may already be harvesting encrypted data to decrypt later. As processing power advances, Surfshark is presently implementing these updates across key operating systems to guarantee user security.
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Understanding the Quantum Threat
The essence of the issue is the main difference between quantum and classical processing. The encryption techniques currently employed to protect online data are directly threatened by the rapid advancement of quantum computing, according to Donatas Budvytis, Chief Technology Officer at Surfshark. Despite their current limitations, quantum capabilities are anticipated to grow sufficiently strong in the near future to jeopardize current cryptography standards.
Hackers’ “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy is worrying. Cybercriminals store volumes of encrypted passwords, intimate communications, and financial data. Even though these data are secure by today’s standards, they will be easily decoded once quantum computing becomes widely accessible. If businesses do not use Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) immediately, this backlog of stolen data will lead to unprecedented privacy challenges.
Surfshark’s Future-Proof Solution
Surfshark’s WireGuard protocol now incorporates quantum-resistant techniques to counter these new threats. Despite being safe from quantum solutions, these new techniques are based on completely distinct kinds of mathematics. MacOS, Linux, and Android users can now use this cutting-edge protection, with iOS and Windows support coming soon.
Users who want to strengthen security can easily enable this protection. Users must select WireGuard as their protocol under Surfshark Settings > VPN settings. Post-quantum protection, which offers an enhanced layer of privacy that protects sensitive data from both present and future decryption capabilities, is immediately triggered once this protocol is chosen.
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The State of App Readiness: A Comprehensive Study
The research team at Surfshark assessed the use of PQC across 40 of the most widely used applications in four main categories: social media, banking, retail, and messaging. The results show that there is a clear discrepancy between the need for and actual use of quantum resistance. Despite the fact that 30% of developers are investigating or making preparations for PQC, an astounding 63% to 65% of the examined apps don’t make any information about their quantum-readiness publicly available.
Banking and Shopping: Sectors at High Risk
The state of the retail and banking industries may be the most concerning. None of the banking apps under analysis had post-quantum cryptography applied. Just 20% of these organizations, such as Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase, have made proactive moves in the direction of quantum resistance. The first-of-its-kind Quantum Key Distribution network has been demonstrated by JPMorgan Chase in notable cooperation with Toshiba and Ciena. In a similar vein, Wells Fargo is concentrating on creating PQC with a ten-year adaption strategy to safeguard consumer data. However, no public action has been taken by the remaining 80% of banking apps.
The retail industry reflects this lack of planning. There are presently no shopping apps that are quantum-resistant. Amazon has outlined a migration strategy for its AWS post-quantum cryptography, suggesting that it is the most proactive company in this category. Although it has only made brief remarks on its awareness and continuous attempts to become robust, Walmart has also addressed the threat.
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Leading the Transition with Messaging and Social Media
In terms of PQC adoption, the messaging category is at the forefront right now. With 18% of the group under analysis, it is the only category in which some apps are already quantum-resistant. Prior Surfshark highlights pointed to Apple’s Signal and iMessage as early adopters of quantum resistance. Major companies like Meta (WhatsApp and Messenger) and Google (Google Messages) have recognized the problem and are taking precautions to prevent decryption in the future.
As of right now, TikTok is the only app in the social media space that is quantum-resistant. While the parent firms of Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube have established plans to use PQC, big websites like Quora, Reddit, and X (previously Twitter) have not specifically mentioned quantum-resistant measures.
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The Digital Chain’s Vulnerabilities
“A user who uses a VPN with post-quantum protection is not completely safe if the other end of the communication chain is weak,” Donatas Budvytis emphasizes. For instance, if a user transfers money using a secure VPN, their data is still at risk if the bank does not have PQC protection of its own. Hackers with quantum capabilities might be able to decode the data at the bank’s terminal in such a situation, which might result in significant financial losses for both the individual and the organization.
A More Comprehensive Cybersecurity Framework
In 2025 and 2026, the overall condition of cyber threats highlights the need for quantum resilience. In 2025, for example, 479,000 malware occurrences were reported by Surfshark’s antivirus data, showing that Windows users were seven times more likely than macOS users to encounter malware. Additionally, well-known file-sharing services like Box, WeTransfer, and Dropbox have been criticized for not doing virus checks on some of their plans, which raises the possibility of spreading harmful files. The FBI has demonstrated the worldwide scope of cybercrime by offering bounties totaling $274 million for information on its most wanted offenders.
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Recommended Steps for the Future
To improve future readiness, experts advise people and companies to be proactive now. Adopting quantum-resistant technology as they become available, seeking ongoing education about new threats, and keeping up with the most recent advancements in cybersecurity are all part of this. Upholding digital democracy and individual privacy will need the adoption of these new cryptographic standards as the “post-quantum era” draws near.
