Topic: NSA seeks Quantum Computer to crack encryptions (Read 1156 times)
This is not a new discussion, OP and linked article offer nothing new beyond other existing threads. I vote for merge or delete
There have been at least two other threads on this in the last few days, quite a bit of discussion in them.
Does anyone know how many qubits it would take to solve common tasks such as SHA1 or SHA256 hashes or other?
What I feared was at best a few years from now (with regards to crypto security) came quicker than expected :
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.html?hpid=z1
Once Quantum Computers reach the needed capability (only a matter of time), we're talking a truly game-changing event in the entire crytography industry.
For those that are not familiar with the still new Quantum Computer research :
Basically this is a machine that you do not have to send through countless but very fast cycles to find the result to your task (like a classic brute force attack).
Instead, the only issue is how to effectively program the tasks into the machine, the result of any single task is performed - instantly. And that is regardless of difficulty of the task, when compared to classic electronic computing we know and use.
The only things that has held back these machines so far are
- very high cost/effort to setup
- very high cost/effort to run and maintain
- biggest technical aspect : the limited amount of quantum bits realized so far, which limits the complexity of the input
(latter is growing every year with each new technology introduced to quantum computing in the science field)
Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.html?hpid=z1
Once Quantum Computers reach the needed capability (only a matter of time), we're talking a truly game-changing event in the entire crytography industry.
For those that are not familiar with the still new Quantum Computer research :
Basically this is a machine that you do not have to send through countless but very fast cycles to find the result to your task (like a classic brute force attack).
Instead, the only issue is how to effectively program the tasks into the machine, the result of any single task is performed - instantly. And that is regardless of difficulty of the task, when compared to classic electronic computing we know and use.
The only things that has held back these machines so far are
- very high cost/effort to setup
- very high cost/effort to run and maintain
- biggest technical aspect : the limited amount of quantum bits realized so far, which limits the complexity of the input
(latter is growing every year with each new technology introduced to quantum computing in the science field)
Wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_computer
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