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1978 Cryptosystem Resists Quantum Attack

KentuckyFC writes "In 1978, the CalTech mathematician Robert McEliece developed a cryptosystem based on the (then) new idea of using asymmetric mathematical functions to create different keys for encrypting and decrypting information. The security of these systems relies on mathematical steps that are easy to make in one direction but hard to do in the other. Today, popular encryption systems such as the RSA algorithm use exactly this idea. But in 1994, the mathematician Peter Shor dreamt up a quantum algorithm that could factorise much faster than any classical counterpart and so can break these codes. As soon as the first decent-sized quantum computer is switched on, these codes will become breakable. Since then, cryptographers have been hunting for encryption systems that will be safe in the post quantum world. Now a group of mathematicians have shown that the McEliece encryption system is safe against attack by Shor's algorithm and all other known quantum algorithms. That's because it does not depend on factorisation but gets its security from another asymmetric conundrum known as the hidden subgroup problem which they show is immune to all known quantum attacks."

12 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Re:conspiracy theory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    No. Nothing to see here.

  2. If you want to test it by Atmchicago · · Score: 4, Funny

    Send a bunch of encrypted e-mails containing questionable content and see if anyone comes knocking at your door. And be sure to not send any questionable content unencrypted, or to give any other reasons for them to show up.

    --

    You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it dissolve.

    1. Re:If you want to test it by fishexe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Send a bunch of encrypted e-mails containing questionable content and see if anyone comes knocking at your door. And be sure to not send any questionable content unencrypted, or to give any other reasons for them to show up.

      But how will I know they're not just knocking at my door out of a desire to make my acquaintance?

      --
      "I don't care about the Constitution!" --Bill O'Reilly, November 17, 2009
    2. Re:If you want to test it by c6gunner · · Score: 5, Funny

      But how will I know they're not just knocking at my door out of a desire to make my acquaintance?

      Easy. If they use your door knocker, they want to make your acquaintance. If they bring their own, they're coming for more than tea and crumpets.

  3. Re:Timeless saying applies here... by ae1294 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Actually, with really hard-core crypto systems there are three traditional ways to break them: 1) rubber hose; 2) dumpster diving; or 3) box of chocolates/bouquet of roses.

    What no wad of Cash xor hookers & blow?

  4. Re:The article agrees with you by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 5, Funny

    You read the article?!

    --
    "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
  5. Re:It's "Caltech", not "CalTech" or "Cal Tech" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Pidantic much? {sic}

  6. Re:conspiracy theory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    -= "MESSAE BLOCK"?

    You've broken the encryption!

  7. Re:Timeless saying applies here... by sznupi · · Score: 2, Funny

    W8, why both of them wouldn't work?

    --
    One that hath name thou can not otter
  8. Re:conspiracy theory by euxneks · · Score: 2, Funny

    Simplistically: If THEY bought out 50% of the researchers in the field, without arousing suspicion amongst those who turned down the offer, THEY would only have a 50% chance of having one first.

    Unfortunately, that same 50% chance collapsed to a more stable 0 once observed.

    --
    in girum imus nocte et consumimur igni
  9. Re:Timeless saying applies here... by ae1294 · · Score: 3, Funny

    WTF... OK... I can deal with slashdot being overrun by morns who know little but act big, but now we have to put up with text-ese ?

    His UID is lower than yours so shouldn't it be "I can deal with that slashdot was overrun by morns who knew little when I signed up. (eol)"

  10. Feed him some cat food by A+nonymous+Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Maybe he did, maybe he didn't.