Code for Unbreakable Quantum Encryption

An anonymous reader writes "ITO is running a story on NIST's latest quantum encryption key generation. From the article: 'Raw code for "unbreakable" quantum encryption has been generated at record speed over optical fiber at NIST. The work is a step toward using conventional high-speed networks such as broadband Internet and local-area networks to transmit ultra-secure video for applications such as surveillance.'"

Comments

Re:Change to "near" Unbreakable.

[frankie]

QC is unbreakable in the mathematical sense. It's a souped-up OTP, which cannot be broken by an outside party, period. Note the word "outside". You can't install a sniffer on the wire, copy the message and decrypt it later. Aside from effectively infinite key length, with QC your intrusion will be detected in real time.

Insider attacks (mole, rootkit, spy camera, etc) which occur AFTER reception and decryption do not count, because the encryption method has nothing to do with that.

Re:Change to "near" Unbreakable.

[eddeye]

Insider attacks (mole, rootkit, spy camera, etc) which occur AFTER reception and decryption do not count, because the encryption method has nothing to do with that.

Which is exactly why this is a solution looking for a problem. No one ever breaks modern crypto when it's used correctly. Attacking the periphery of the system is orders of magnitude easier. Your resources are much better spent guarding against insider attacks than buying the next useless whiz-bang crypto device.