Using quantum physics to keep fibreoptic data safe from harm

Cybersecurity analysts say Q-Day is just around the corner.

In fact, it may even have already happened. Q-Day is the hypothetical day when a quantum computer becomes powerful enough it can crack open widely used encrypted data algorithms.

Encrypted algorithms keep hackers from acessing sensitive online information belonging to governments and the military; banks, including financial transactions and asset ownership records; telecommunication, cloud storage and internet companies and global social media platforms. They also protect the digital footprint and data of every day Australians.

While physical hackers can tap into, copy and store data streams from fibreoptic cable networks using readily available devices like splitters, there is currently no way to break the encryption keeping data safe from nefarious parties.

The US-based Quantum Economic Development Consortium estimated in 2024 that more than $100 trillion in assets was at risk should Q-Day eventuate.

Ensuring data is secure from physical hacks is an ongoing challenge.

VeriQuantix

VeriQuantix, a spin-out company from The University of Queensland, uses Quantum Link Verification technology designed by researchers from UQ’s School of Mathematics and Physics, to notify users and pinpoint the location of a physical hack to a fibreoptic network in real-time.

The alert would allow users to immediately reroute data traffic to trusted pathways on the network, nullifying the threat of the hack.

The UQ technology is being licensed to VeriQuantix by UniQuest, UQ’s commercialisation company.

Like many great ideas, the spark behind Quantum Link Verification technology was first ignited during a conversation between two of the UQ inventors over a beer in 2020.

The research

Professor Andrew White, Dr Marcelo de Almeida and Dr Michael Harvey jointly developed the UQ technology alongside Dr Till Weinhold in early 2020.

It is based on the quantum behaviour of particles of light (photons), where two indistinguishable photons interact with one another, in this case to test the trustworthiness of a fibreoptic cable length.

When there is interference that changes the correlation between the photons, for example through a physical hack to the cabling, an alert immediately signals the link as no longer trustworthy.

The alert would tell the network management system of the data centre to reroute data traffic through uncompromised lengths of cabling.

The first prototype is planned to be the size of a microwave oven, but the VeriQuantix team anticipates the technology will ultimately be the size of a USB, allowing it to be installed seamlessly in data centres across the world.

Runs on the board

The company is rapidly gaining traction.

In April 2025, VeriQuantix was awarded first place out of 27 at the Tech Council of Australia’s Australian Cyber Exchange Conference ACE25 Showcase startup pitch competition.

In late 2024, VeriQuantix came second in the Semiconductor Australia 2024 Conference early-stage pitch competition.

The seed investment raise for VeriQuantix was over-subscribed.

Visit the VeriQuantix website here: VeriQuantix – Quantum Link Verification