If you’ve read anything about technology in the last few years, you may have seen the term “encryption” floating around. It’s a simple concept, but the realities of its use are enormously complicated.

Chinese researchers say they have become the first people to use a quantum computer to compromise the type of password-based security system widely employed in critical industries such as defense.

The research team, led by Wang Chao from Shanghai University, found that D-Wave’s quantum computers can optimize problem-solving in a way that makes it possible to attack encryption methods such as ...