Bitcoin wallets could hack with quantum computers but cryptographers are racing to build a work
The programmer and crypto trader forgot the password to unlock his digital wallet, which contains 7,002 bitcoin, now worth $265 million. Quantum computers, which will be several million times faster than traditional computers, could have easily helped him crack the code.
Though quantum computing is still very much in its infancy, governments and private-sector companies such as Microsoft and Google are working to make it a reality. Within a decade, quantum computers could be powerful enough to break the cryptographic security that protects cell phones, bank accounts, email addresses and — yes — bitcoin wallets.
“If you had a quantum computer today, and you were a state sponsor – China, for example – most probably in about eight years, you could crack wallets on the blockchain,” said Fred Thiel, CEO of cryptocurrency mining specialist Marathon Digital Holdings.
This is precisely why cryptographers around the world are racing to build a quantum-resistant encryption protocol.
**Quantum hacking**
Right now, much of the world runs on something called asymmetric cryptography, in which individuals use a private and public key pair to access things such as email and crypto wallets.
“Every single financial institution, every login on your phone — it is all based on asymmetric cryptography, which is susceptible to hacking with a quantum computer,” Thiel said. Thiel is a former director of Utimaco, one of the largest cryptography companies in Europe, which has worked with Microsoft, Google and others on post-quantum encryption.
The public-private key pair lets users produce a digital signature, using their private key, which can be verified by anyone who has the corresponding public key.
In the case of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, this digital signature is called the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm, and it ensures that bitcoin can only be spent by the rightful owner.
Theoretically, someone using quantum computing could reverse-engineer your private key, forge your digital signature, and subsequently empty your bitcoin wallet.
“If I was dealing in fear-mongering ... I’d tell you that among the first types of digital signatures that will be broken by quantum computers are elliptic curves, as we use them today, for bitcoin wallets,” said Thorsten Groetker, former Utimaco CTO and one of the top experts in the field of quantum computing.
“But that would happen if we do nothing,” he said.
**Fortifying bitcoin wallets**
Crypto experts told that they aren’t worried about quantum hacking of bitcoin wallets for a couple of different reasons.
Castle Island Ventures founding partner Nic Carter pointed out that quantum breaks would be gradual rather than sudden.
“We would have plenty of forewarning if quantum computing was reaching the stage of maturity and sophistication at which it started to threaten our core cryptographic primitives,” he said. “It wouldn’t be something that happens overnight.”
There is also the fact that the community knows that it is coming, and researchers are already in the process of building quantum-safe cryptography.
“The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST) has been working on a new standard for encryption for the future that’s quantum-proof,” said Thiel.
NIST is running that selection process now, picking the best candidates and standardizing them.
“It’s a technical problem, and there’s a technical solution for it,” said Groetker. “There are new and secure algorithms for digital signatures. ... You will have years of time to migrate your funds from one account to another.”
Groetker said he expects the first standard quantum-safe crypto algorithm by 2024, which is still, as he put it, well before we’d see a quantum computer capable of breaking bitcoin’s cryptography.
Once a newly standardized post-quantum secure cryptography is built, Groetker said, the process of mass migration will begin. “Everyone who owns bitcoin or ethereum will transfer [their] funds from the digital identity that is secured with the old type of key, to a new wallet, or new account, that’s secured with a new type of key, which is going to be secure,” he said.
However, this kind of upgrade in security requires users to be proactive. In some scenarios, where fiat money accounts are centralized through a bank, this process may be easier than requiring a decentralized network of crypto holders to update their systems individually.
“Not everybody, regardless of how long it takes, will move their funds in time,” said Groetker. Inevitably, there will be users who forget their password or perhaps passed away without sharing their key.
“There will be a number of wallets ... that become increasingly insecure, because they’re using weaker keys.”
But there are ways to deal with this kind of failing in security upgrade. For example, an organization could lock down all accounts still using the old type of cryptography and give owners some way to access it. The trade-off here would be the loss of anonymity when users go to reclaim their balance.
How to Leave Work “at Work”
In this age of technology, your employer, workmates, or clients might expect you to be available 24-7, making it difficult to achieve what is known as work-life balancea reasonable separation and prioritizing between your job and other aspects of life, including your marriage.
***What you should know***
***Tips on work-life balance***
**What you should know**
Technology can blur the line between your job and your marriage. As a result, each off-hours call, e-mail, or text you receive can lead to what seems like a fire that needs to be put out immediately.
"*The simple life of coming home after work and spending time with your family seems impossible now, as work e-mails and phone calls come in and marriage gets put on the back burner.”—Janette.*
To balance your work with your home life, you need to take the initiative. If you do not create a plan, your job is more likely to intrude on your marriage.
*“Your mate is usually the first one you neglect because you think, ‘Oh, he’ll understand. He’ll forgive me. I’ll spend time with him later.’”—Jean.*
**Tips on work-life balance**
**Give your marriage priority**. The Bible says: “What God has joined together, no human being must separate.” (Matthew 19:6, New American Bible, Revised New Testament) If you would not let a human “separate” you from your marriage mate, why allow your job to do so?
“*Some clients feel that because they pay you, they should be able to reach you whenever they need you. Recognizing that my marriage takes priority, I tell them that I’m not available on my days off, but I will contact them soon.”—Mark.*
Ask yourself, ‘Do my actions indicate that I view my marriage as more important than my job?’
**Say no to work when necessary**. Modesty may dictate that it would be wise for you to decline or delegate some of your work.
“*I am a plumber, so if someone needs my help in an emergency, he gets stressed out. If I can’t get to it in the time frame he wants, I refer him to someone else.”—Christopher.*
Ask yourself: ‘Am I willing to turn down extra work if accepting it would cause my spouse to feel neglected? What would my spouse say?’
**Create time together.** When your workload is heavy, that is the time when you need to create or appoint time for your marriage.
“*Usually when everything hits at once, we agree on a time—even if it’s just dinner or a walk on the beach—when we can have some uninterrupted time together.”—Deborah.*
Ask yourself: ‘Do I schedule appointed times when I can give undistracted attention to my marriage mate? How would my spouse answer?’
**Unplug**. Could you occasionally turn off your devices so that you are not distracted by the demands of work?
*I’ve made a real effort to stop work at a set time. At that point, I turn off notifications on my phone.”—Jeremy.*
Ask yourself: ‘Do I feel obligated to stay connected just in case my boss or a client needs me? How would my spouse answer?’
**Allow for exceptions**. Realistically, work may occasionally intrude on your marriage. For example, perhaps the nature of your spouse’s work requires that he or she be reachable after hours. Do not demand more of your spouse than is reasonable.
“*My husband runs a small business, and there are often after-hours emergencies he has to deal with. Occasionally, it annoys me, but with the amount of time we still spend together, it works out well.”—Maria*
Ask yourself: ‘Am I considerate of my spouse’s workload, not being overly demanding of him or her?
How would my spouse answer?
’*Tip*: Remember that work-life balance is an ongoing issue that will require continual reevaluation. Use the *Discussion guide in this article* to see where in your life you and your spouse can create a better work-life balance.
... Thnx 4 reading🙏🙏😊😊.
Why Are People So Angry?
**The Problem With Anger**
A man who ordered a sandwich at a fast-food restaurant became enraged when he thought it took too long for his meal to come. He entered the restaurant, threatened an employee, shoved him up against a counter, and slapped him. The angry man then grabbed his sandwich and walked out of the restaurant.
ALL of us get angry from time to time. After all, anger is as much a part of our emotional makeup as love, hope, anxiety, sadness, and fear. Anger that is controlled can expressed in a proper way and can serve a useful purpose. For example, anger can be productive if it boosts one’s determination to overcome certain obstacles or problems. As illustrated by the account above, anger also has a dark side. Some people experience anger more quickly, more frequently, and more intensely than others. When provoked, they may lash out with verbal or physical attacks. Their anger, in effect, controls them, when it should be the other way around. Such unrestrained anger is dangerous, which is why it is sometimes referred to as “problem anger.”Those with anger problems bring grief not only to themselves but also to everyone around them. For someone with anger issues, even seemingly trivial matters can spark a violent outburst that brings tragic consequences. Consider the following examples:
"A man walking with a group of friends was shot in the neck after the sports bag of one of his friends brushed against another man on a busy street.
19-year-old male beat his fiancée’s 11-month-old baby to death.The man had been playing a violent video game and lost his temper when the baby touched the game’s control panel and thus caused the man to forfeit the game.
Similar reports from around the world indicate that an increasing number of people have anger problems.
Why is anger on the rise?
**Why So Much Anger?**
THE causes of anger are complex. Even scientists admit that anger is poorly understood. However, there is general agreement among mental-health professionals that all of us react to certain “anger triggers.”
An anger trigger can be something that frustrates or annoys someone. These triggers often result from injustice or unfairness. They can occur when we feel slighted, such as through insult or disrespect. An imagined threat to our authority or reputation can also stir up feelings of anger.
Of course, “anger triggers” vary from person to person. They differ with age and gender and even from one culture to another. Moreover, reactions to these triggers also vary. Some people seldom get angry and quickly get over an affront, while others are easily provoked and may hold on to anger for days, weeks, months, or longer.
Our environment is filled with potential triggers. Added to that, sensitivity to these triggers may be rising. Why? One reason is the thoughtless, me-first spirit that is ever-present in our day. The Bible explains: “In the last days . . . men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, . . . headstrong, puffed up with pride.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Does that not accurately describe the attitudes of many people today?
Indeed, when self-centered people do not get their own way, anger is often the result. There are also a number of other reasons why anger may be a growing problem. Consider some of them.
**Parental Example**
One’s parents have a profound influence on personality development throughout childhood and adolescence.
If a child is raised in a hostile environment-a place where tempers flare over trivial matters_the child is in effect, being trained to respond to life’s problems with anger. You could liken the child’s situation to a plant that has been nourished with tainted water. The plant may grow, but its development could be perhaps suffer permanent damage. Likewise, anger is like tainted water, and children who have been exposed to it are more inclined to have anger problems as adults.
**Cramped Cities**
As more and more people squeeze into crowded cities, the levels of anger and frustration are likely to rise. To cite one example, Mexico City is one of the largest and most congested cities on earth. Traffic jams are a major source of anxiety. Home to some 18 million people and six million cars, Mexico City “could well be the world’s most stressed-out capital,” reports one journalist. “The traffic is intense, rendering tempers highly combustible.”Crowded cities bring other sources of stress, including air and noise pollution, scarce housing, cultural clashes, and high crime rates. As the sources of stress increase, people have a tendency to get frustrated, angry, and lose patience more easily.
**Economic Despair**
The world’s economic meltdown has sparked widespread stress and anxiety. According to some reports and survey “Over 210 million people across the globe are estimated to be unemployed.” Sadly, most of those who have been laid off are without any kind of safety net.Those holding a job do not fare much better, work-related stress is a “global epidemic."
**Prejudice and Injustice**
Imagine how you would feel if you entered a footrace and found that you were the only one required to compete in leg irons. Millions of people feel similarly when they face racial or other forms of prejudice. People get angry when they face barriers that limit their access to jobs, education, housing, and other basic necessities.
Other forms of injustice can likewise crush one’s spirit and bring great emotional pain. Sadly, most of us have felt the sting of injustice at one time or another. When justice is rampant and comfort is scarce, anger can easily well up in one’s heart.
**The Entertainment Industry**
Over a thousand studies have been conducted to determine the impact television and other media violence have on children.Base in my experience, as a father it's true' that when our children exposed to violent acts on television they lost their temper easily.True, most youths who are routinely exposed to violent acts on television do not grow up to be vicious criminals. However, the entertainment media often portrays violent anger as an acceptable way to deal with adversity, and a new generation of people who are desensitized to violence has emerged.
**Resist the Urge**
Indeed, when we consider all these problems, pressures, and anxieties, we understand why people become frustrated as they try to manage their day-to-day responsibilities.
The urge to become angry and blow off steam can be overpowering! The next article will help us to see how to keep anger under control.
"**Let Anger Alone**"
The way to avoid saying or doing something that you may later regret is to keep from getting "heated up" in the first place. Of course, that is much easier said than done. But it can be done! Let's consider three ways that you can get your anger under control.
**Reduce Anger’s Intensity**
To reduce anger, slow down and relax. Try to avoid saying the first thing that comes to mind. If you feel yourself getting overly excited and feel you are in danger of losing control of your emotions, apply the Bible’s counsel: “The beginning of contention is as one letting out waters; so before the quarrel has burst forth, take your leave.”—Proverbs 17:14.
**Learn to Relax**
The following techniques have proved to be effective in combating stress-related anger:
● Breathing deeply, which is one of the best—and fastest—ways to reduce the intensity of your anger.
● While breathing deeply, repeating a word or phrase that is calming to you, such as “relax,” “let it go,” or “take it easy.”
● Immersing yourself in something you enjoy—perhaps reading, listening to music, gardening, or some other type of activity you find relaxing.
● Getting regular exercise and eating a healthful diet.
**Adjust Your Expectations**
You may not be able completely to avoid the people or the things that act as anger triggers, but you can learn to control your reactions to them. This involves changing the way you think.People with very high expectations tend to have greater problems with anger. Why? Because when someone or something does not measure up to their high standards, disappointment and anger quickly follow.Therefore, we set ourselves up for a sense of failure if we think that we or anyone else can be perfect. We are wise not to expect too much of ourselves or others. The Bible says: “We all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man.” (James 3:2) Yes, “there is no man righteous in the earth that keeps doing good and does not sin." So if we pretend to be something that we are not—perfect—it will lead to a life filled with frustration and anger.As imperfect humans, we all get angry from time to time. But how we express our anger is a matter of choice.Yes, by controlling our anger, we can express our feelings in a positive way, a way that works for the benefit of everyone involved.
@Rjboy