Is the NSA trying to warn us that cryptography is dead?
Is the NSA trying to warn united states of america that cryptography is dead?
Back in August, the NSA released an updated advisory that was at one time interesting and expected: It said that the world had to gear up for the oncoming bear on of quantum computers, and the possibility that these devices could return existing computer cryptography nigh completely obsolete. They chosen for the cryptographic customs to invest heavily in developing so-chosen mail-quantum cryptographic solutions that could survive this hypothetical watershed invention. And, as you might imagine, this informational has very almost driven the internet insane. Now, two security researchers have published a paper compiling all the various theories surrounding this informational, and trying to make sense of the situation.
Think that quantum computers take obsessed cyberspace weirdos for as long as the concept has existed. Effort really looking into the Deep Web sometime, and y'all'll apace come upward against the idea of a quantum deep web, a deep deep deep web, that can just be accessed by/through Illuminati-manner quantum networks that, of course, don't actually exist. Much of this lore is merely gleeful trolling by people who love to mislead noobs, but don't kid yourself — many of the most entrenched People Of The Internet actually do believe this crap.
For those partners and vendors that have not still made the transition to Suite B algorithms, we recommend not making a meaning expenditure to do so at this point simply instead to gear up for the upcoming quantum resistant algorithm transition.
The reason this has surprised so many people is that the NSA has been a long-time supporter of several of what nosotros might call pre-breakthrough cryptographic solutions, new and highly advanced algorithms that shore up problems with current solutions, but which would probably non be secure in the outcome of real quantum computing. In particular, NSA has been a booster of Elliptical Curve Cryptography (ECC), which makes this back-pedaling announcement a bit confusing. They're now saying that this ECC is a stopgap solution waiting to be fabricated obsolete by quantum research — only that'due south what it'south ever been, so what'southward inverse?
DWave's (declared) quantum computing chip.
Nevertheless, while it's certainly possible that NSA has a hugger-mugger, super-successful breakthrough computer backside closed doors, that looks very unlikely at this point. Not only does NSA seem to lack the sheer volume of pure-science research talent that would be necessary to compete with the major, openly admitted research bodies, but the Edward Snowden leaks revealed absolutely no indication that NSA has or presently expects to have access to post-quantum capabilities.
And so, those viewing the situation have slid downward to a possible explanation that'south at once more and less realistic: a conventional computer algorithm that tin break mod reckoner encryption through sheer mathematical efficiency. This is more realistic, since it could theoretically come from the mind of just a single brilliant analyst, and thus it could come from the NSA, out of the blue and with no assist from the private sector. On the other hand, conventional wisdom in cryptography says that such a classical code-breaking organisation is impossible, with a digital computer.
The fact is that "NSA Has Quantum!" is a bit like the tech-globe's equivalent of "Half Life three Confirmed" — it'southward basically a joke at this point, but beneath the sarcasm lies an understanding that the cliché does take to come true eventually, fifty-fifty if not for a very, very long time. That's why both memes have been so long-lived: Quantum computers seem like they will come into beingness at some point, then no thing how many times they weep (or hint) wolf, yous've however got to exist wary — every single fourth dimension.
Source: https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/216846-is-the-nsa-trying-to-warn-us-that-cryptography-is-dead
Posted by: etheridgethersen.blogspot.com
0 Response to "Is the NSA trying to warn us that cryptography is dead?"
Post a Comment