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Re: Quantum computers and encryption

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On Thu, 10 Mar 2016 23:14:34 -0800
isw <isw@witzend.com> wrote:

> Not sure this is the right group, but there seems to be a lot of random 
> knowledge here ...
> 
> I just saw an article on some recent "breakthrough" in quantum 
> computing, where the author was yet again predicting the imminent demise 
> of encryption, just as soon as they "get the bugs out" of their 
> superfast CPU. Or whatever.
> 
> Anyhow, as I understand it, a quantum computer can sort of "test all the 
> keys at once" to find the right one to decrypt an encrypted file.

	That would perhaps be possible but has all the problems you mention.
The main thing quantum computers do to encryption is fast factorisation.
Public key encryption depends on it being very difficult to factorise a
large number - if you can factorise the public key you can generate the
private key - so if you can factorise large numbers quickly then public key
encryption is broken.

-- 
Steve O'Hara-Smith                          |   Directable Mirror Arrays
C:>WIN                                      | A better way to focus the sun
The computer obeys and wins.                |    licences available see
You lose and Bill collects.                 |    http://www.sohara.org/

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Quantum computers and encryption isw <isw@witzend.com> - 2016-03-10 23:14 -0800
  Re: Quantum computers and encryption Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> - 2016-03-11 07:45 +0000
    Re: Quantum computers and encryption jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2016-03-11 13:08 +0000
      Re: Quantum computers and encryption scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2016-03-11 14:13 +0000
        Re: Quantum computers and encryption jmfbahciv <See.above@aol.com> - 2016-03-12 13:34 +0000

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