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Category: encryption

3D-printed helixes show promise as THz optical materials

Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) have optimized and 3D-printed helix structures as optical materials for terahertz (THz) frequencies, a potential way to address a technology gap for next-generation telecommunications, non-destructive evaluation, chemical/biological sensing and more.

The printed microscale helices reliably create circularly polarized beams in the THz range and, when arranged in patterned arrays, can function as a new type of Quick Response (QR) for advanced encryption/decryption. Their results, published in Advanced Science, represent the first full parametric analysis of helical structures for THz frequencies and show the potential of 3D printing for fabricating THz devices.

Scientists advance quantum signaling with twisted light technology

A tiny device that entangles light and electrons without super-cooling could revolutionize quantum tech in cryptography, computing, and AI.

Present-day quantum computers are big, expensive, and impractical, operating at temperatures near-459 degrees Fahrenheit, or “absolute zero.” In a new paper, however, materials scientists at Stanford University introduce a new nanoscale optical device that works at room temperature to entangle the spin of photons (particles of light) and electrons to achieve quantum communication—an approach that uses the laws of quantum physics to transmit and process data. The technology could usher in a new era of low-cost, low-energy quantum components able to communicate over great distances.

“The material in question is not really new, but the way we use it is,” says Jennifer Dionne, a professor of materials science and engineering and senior author of the paper just published in Nature Communications describing the novel device. “It provides a very versatile, stable spin connection between electrons and photons that is the theoretical basis of quantum communication. Typically, however, the electrons lose their spin too quickly to be useful.”

Popular Forge library gets fix for signature verification bypass flaw

A vulnerability in the ‘node-forge’ package, a popular JavaScript cryptography library, could be exploited to bypass signature verifications by crafting data that appears valid.

The flaw is tracked as CVE-2025–12816 and received a high severity rating. It arises from the library’s ASN.1 validation mechanism, which allows malformed data to pass checks even when it is cryptographically invalid.

“An interpretation-conflict vulnerability in node-forge versions 1.3.1 and earlier enables unauthenticated attackers to craft ASN.1 structures to desynchronize schema validations, yielding a semantic divergence that may bypass downstream cryptographic verifications and security decisions,” reads the flaw’s description in the National Vulnerabilities Database (NVD).

Quantum computers could be powerful enough to decrypt Bitcoin sometime after 2030, CEO of Nvidia’s quantum partner says

“You should have a few good years ahead of you but I wouldn’t hold my Bitcoin,” Peronnin said, laughing. “They need to fork [move to a stronger blockchain] by 2030, basically. Quantum computers will be ready to be a threat a bit later than that,” he said.

Quantum doesn’t just threaten Bitcoin, of course, but all banking encryption. And it is likely that in all these cases companies are developing quantum resistant tools to upgrade their existing security systems.

Defensive security algorithms are improving, Peronnin said, so it’s not certain when the blockchain will become vulnerable to a quantum attack. But “the threshold for such an event is coming closer to us year by year,” he said.

Quantum teleportation between photons from two distant light sources achieved

Everyday life on the internet is insecure. Hackers can break into bank accounts or steal digital identities. Driven by AI, attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Quantum cryptography promises more effective protection. It makes communication secure against eavesdropping by relying on the laws of quantum physics. However, the path toward a quantum internet is still fraught with technical hurdles.

Researchers at the Institute of Semiconductor Optics and Functional Interfaces (IHFG) at the University of Stuttgart have now made a decisive breakthrough in one of the most technically challenging components, the . They report their results in Nature Communications.

Kraken ransomware benchmarks systems for optimal encryption choice

The Kraken ransomware, which targets Windows, Linux/VMware ESXi systems, is testing machines to check how fast it can encrypt data without overloading them.

According to Cisco Talos researchers, Kraken’s feature is a rare capability that uses temporary files to choose between full and partial data encryption.

The Kraken ransomware emerged at the begining of the year as a continuation of the HelloKitty operation, and engages in big-game hunting attacks with data theft for double extortion.

CISA warns of Akira ransomware Linux encryptor targeting Nutanix VMs

US government agencies are warning that the Akira ransomware operation has been spotted encrypting Nutanix AHV virtual machines in attacks.

An updated joint advisory from CISA, the FBI, the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and several international partners alerts that Akira ransomware has expanded its encryption capabilities Nutanix AHV VM disk files.

The advisory includes new indicators of compromise and tactics observed through FBI investigations and third-party reporting as recent as November 2025.

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