Quantum cryptography kinda sorta hacked
By Nilay Patel 
posted May 1st 2007 1:32AM
posted May 1st 2007 1:32AM
It's always only a matter of time. A little less than a year after the first quantum cryptographic network was demoed, a group of researchers at MIT have announced a working implementation of a hack that's been around in theory since 1998 but never implemented. Skirting around ol' Wernie Heisenberg and that Principle of his, the team exploited quantum entanglement to read the encryption keys encoded in photon polarizations from their momentums, avoiding detection by either end -- in other words, doing what was once thought impossible by cryptographers. The system isn't perfect, however -- in this early incarnation it can only nab 40% of transmitted data before giving itself away, and more importantly, it requires the invention of a "quantum non-demolition box" before the attacker can be anywhere but the same room as the receiver, since right now both attacker and receiver need to be using the same photon detector. Sounds like that might put a damper on that whole "undetectable" thing. Still, the researchers sound upbeat -- they're saying the work proves that no secret is truly safe. We're just wondering if they're pushing MIT to rename their department SETEC ASTRONOMY.
I have a sinking feeling that the Hackers movie set in the quantum computing age will be a little tough to swallow.
"What are you doing?"
"I am using a quantum non-demolition box to read the photon polarization to take over the holonet"
"Finish up, honey, and get to sleep."
Too many secrets. ;-)
TOO MANY SECRETS!
Gotta love the Sneakers reference...
I'm not sure what i just read...
In fact I think my eyes are bleeding...
Great Movie!!!!
SETEC Astronomy?
Haha. Yeah, nice reference indeed.
Greatest allusion evar!
Anyone know what a "quantum non-demolition box" is?
SETEC ASTRONOMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha ha wow whipped that one out from the depths...you rock.
took them this long? - i did last month in my sleep. lol
So - let me get this straight. Quantum cryptography has been simultaneously proven hackable and completely secure?
Huh - who knew that MS was into quantum physics.
it's all smoke and mirrors to me
Holy sh!t.............
Uhmmmm, so like I'm still trying to solve my Rubix Cube......
I'm still having trouble getting the ticker-tape to line up properly.