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This is the sort of code-breaking the NSA should be doing. If breaking encryption algorithms is possible with quantum computers, we should figure out how to do

This is the sort of code-breaking the NSA should be doing. If breaking encryption algorithms is possible with quantum computers, we should figure out how to do it before any other nation-state or hacker does. This discovery would hopefully push forward encryption standards toward less breakable encryption. What we should not do is use those discoveries to illegally spy, but rather to improve our security. Unfortunately, the NSA has lost credibility in contributing to encryption standards, so how that would happen is unclear. Breaking encryption with new technology is entirely different than subverting encryption technologies intentionally or using their asymmetrical powers to tap into communication systems. Any attacks that can be discovered will hopefully first be discovered by relatively good actors (US intelligence) rather than relatively bad ones (Chinese intelligence.)

yuliyp 13y ago
If the NSA was able to break RSA, there's about a .1% chance they'd tell people about it.
- chronic25 13y ago
  I'd argue it is 3.50%
- crystaln 13y ago
  If the NSA broke RSA, they'd know that it was only a short matter of time before other intelligence agencies did the same, so it would be pretty stupid of them to not hint to industry that they should upgrade their algorithms. While the NSA wants communications to be vulnerable to them, they certainly don't want communications to be vulnerable to others.
dionyziz 13y ago
You don't need a quantum computer to break encryption in order to know that it's breakable. This has already been proven (Shor's Algorthm). You also don't need quantum computers to construct stronger cryptography, immune to quantum cryptanalysis. This has also already been done as well (post-quantum cryptography).
- crystaln 13y ago
  You are likely to need quantum computers to demonstrate that they can feasibly break encryption in order to get people to switch to post-quantum cryptography. The fact that an algorithm exists for a non-existent computer system does not meet that bar. Conventional computers can also break encryption given enough speed and power - it's just not yet feasible as with quantum computers.

yuliyp 13y ago

If the NSA was able to break RSA, there's about a .1% chance they'd tell people about it.

chronic25 13y ago
I'd argue it is 3.50%
crystaln 13y ago
If the NSA broke RSA, they'd know that it was only a short matter of time before other intelligence agencies did the same, so it would be pretty stupid of them to not hint to industry that they should upgrade their algorithms. While the NSA wants communications to be vulnerable to them, they certainly don't want communications to be vulnerable to others.

dionyziz 13y ago

You don't need a quantum computer to break encryption in order to know that it's breakable. This has already been proven (Shor's Algorthm). You also don't need quantum computers to construct stronger cryptography, immune to quantum cryptanalysis. This has also already been done as well (post-quantum cryptography).

crystaln 13y ago
You are likely to need quantum computers to demonstrate that they can feasibly break encryption in order to get people to switch to post-quantum cryptography. The fact that an algorithm exists for a non-existent computer system does not meet that bar. Conventional computers can also break encryption given enough speed and power - it's just not yet feasible as with quantum computers.