One of the most well-known quantum algorithms is the Shor algorithm, which gives the ability to factorize a number into prime factors. In computer science, this is a very important issue, because the factorization of large numbers is the basis of encryption keys, securing the security of passwords, websites, banking transactions and many other confidential channels of information on the network.
At present, our data is secure because it would take years of computation for even the largest supercomputers to successfully factorize large numbers. With the advent of the quantum computer, however, it will be possible to break these protections much faster.
