Cyber Threats•May 25, 2025
Understanding Harvest Now, Decrypt Later Attacks: The Silent Threat to Your Data Security
A concise overview of “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” (HNDL) attacks, explaining how adversaries collect and store encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it once quantum computers become powerful enough. It breaks down the three phases of an HNDL attack—harvest, storage, and decrypt—highlights which encryption methods and industries are most at risk, and surveys real‐world evidence that these attacks have already begun. The post then outlines the urgency of adopting post‐quantum cryptography (PQC) standards, offers immediate protective measures (like transitioning to AES‐256 and implementing perfect forward secrecy), and provides strategic guidance for building long‐term crypto‐agility.
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