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Physics

Quantum encryption could stop scammers from faking their locations

A technique that uses quantum computers to verify a device's location can only be hacked with a quantum machine thousands of times larger than those currently in existence

By Karmela Padavic-Callaghan

28 April 2022

A global network

Quantum computers could be used to verify a device’s location

Shutterstock / Blue Planet Studio

A quantum encryption technique could make it nearly impossible for someone to fake the location of a computer or device.

When sending information from one computer to another, there are times when it would be useful to verify the recipient’s location. These range from making sure military intelligence gets to the right person to preventing a prankster from ordering pizza to someone else’s house as a joke. It isn’t possible to create a fully secure method to verify someone’s location using…

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