Researchers using pulses of light to quickly decipher codes
By Darren Murph 
posted Aug 17th 2007 7:11PM
posted Aug 17th 2007 7:11PM
While we imagine most Wolverines are focusing their efforts on gathering up the requisite tailgating gear for the onset of fall, a team of researchers at the University of Michigan are busy finding ways to decipher encryption codes "within seconds." The crew has apparently discovered that by "using pulses of light to dramatically accelerate quantum computers," these systems could not only crack "highly encrypted codes" in moments versus years, but it could also "lead to tougher protection of [sensitive] information." Additionally, the findings rely on "quantum dots and readily available, relatively inexpensive optical telecommunications technology to drive quantum computers," which could lead to quicker implementation of quantum level applications. Hackers, meet your dream machine.[Via TGDaily, image courtesy of Technovelgy]
If...only...they...weren't...Wolverines...
(I'm a Buckeye, so sue me.)
Hawkeye here, those darn wolverines are trying to find a way to decipher coded playbooks!
I'm with Mr. Yetti on this one.
Go Bucks.
That's not important, is it? What's really important is that none of this ever happened. This box doesn't exist.
Will it play encrypted doom?
No, it can solve doom, instantly and several concurrent non-identical versions.
Frightening
I don't mind hackers getting it, it's those damn script kiddies I worry about.
Quantum computers are a frightening concept for anyone that can't afford a quantum computer. Basically if a quantum computer were ever truly created, noone without an equally powerful computer would ever be able to secure his/her data and privacy would go flying out the window. Oh and go GATORS!!!!!
Naaa we would simply go back to writing secrets on paper and placing them in a safe. Problem solved. :-P
In nearly all situations other than warfare, pre-exchanged one-time-pads are a perfectly workable option for secure communications. It's more complicated than now, but very doable. It can be automated reasonably well, and is provably unbreakable (misusable, yes. bypassable, yes. breakable, no).
There are also new types of public-key encryption out there than haven't made the mainstream yet because we don't need them.
Symmetric key encryption is not subject to the same level of degradation at the hands of quantum computing as asymmetric key encryption. I believe the most a quantum computer can do is reduce the crack time linearly rather than exponentially. Double your key size and you've accounted for the gain that quantum computing brings.
I may be incorrect here or there, but the summary is that quantum computing isn't going to break tomorrow's encryption, only yesterday's and some of today's.
"Crack time"
While I understand nothing of encryption, this phrase has my vote as the college recruiting phrase of choice.
Sure, that's all well and good,
but will it blend?
Very, Very scary stuff. From What i gather, quantum computing solves the limitation of silicon - being infrared (heat). This means that no longer can we go from 128bit encryption to 256bit encryption and sleep easy. MD5, RSA ... all obsolete.