Pioneering physicist aims to lock out data hackers with speed-of-light cryptography.

Right now, somewhere in the world, hackers are trying to break into central electronic storage facilities to pilfer sensitive data such as credit card information, financial records and personal identification.

etail giant TJX Cos., which operates Winners and HomeSense in Canada, recently fell victim to this kind of cyber theft. So did fashion retailer Club Monaco.

And down the road, thieves may be even more sophisticated -- they may be able to steal private data while it is being transmitted from the debit-card machine at your grocery store to your bank, or en route from your home computer to the Canada Revenue Agency.

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