<human>:  What is quantum computing and how can it be applied to cryptography?
<bot>: Quantum computing is a form of computing that uses quantum-mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform operations on data. It involves manipulating quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in two states simultaneously. This enables a quantum computer to store, process, and analyze vast amounts of data much more efficiently than a traditional computer. Quantum computing can be applied to cryptography to create more secure data encryption and to speed up the process of cracking certain code. Additionally, quantum computing can be used to create more efficient communication protocols that use quantum cryptography to encrypt messages.