nature.com— Simulation proves it's possible to eavesdrop on super-secure encrypted messages.A team of researchers from MIT has, for the first time, hacked into a network protected by quantum encryption.
Apr 29, 2007View in Crawl 4
How do you generate a truly random one-time-pad? Unless you're using atomic decay or some similar obscenely complicated true-random generator, you're using an (admittedly very complex) algorithm to generate psuedo-random sequences. Given a quantum computer (and as we're talking quantum cryptography here that's not out of the question) the algorithm governing this sequence could eventually be found and reversed, allowing the key to be found, and the message decrypted. Though it would be incredibly, ludicrously, mind bogglingly difficult, it would be possible. Quantum computers can do strange and difficult tasks with ease, like reversing AES keys (thought to be impossible with conventional mathematics in a reasonable amount of time i.e. less than the predicted lifespan of the universe).
edziebaApr 29, 2007
How do you generate a truly random one-time-pad? Unless you're using atomic decay or some similar obscenely complicated true-random generator, you're using an (admittedly very complex) algorithm to generate psuedo-random sequences. Given a quantum computer (and as we're talking quantum cryptography here that's not out of the question) the algorithm governing this sequence could eventually be found and reversed, allowing the key to be found, and the message decrypted. Though it would be incredibly, ludicrously, mind bogglingly difficult, it would be possible. Quantum computers can do strange and difficult tasks with ease, like reversing AES keys (thought to be impossible with conventional mathematics in a reasonable amount of time i.e. less than the predicted lifespan of the universe).
lazyeyesamApr 29, 2007
Data doesn't need to be 100% secure. So long as the cost to decrypt the data is greater than the value of the data itself, it is classed as 'secure'.
sunamiebobApr 30, 2007
Anything made by man, can be broke by man
squaredupApr 30, 2007
Sources: Before some digg scientist debunks me with a smartass comment.<a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon_polarization#Uncertainty_principle">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photon_polarization#Uncertainty_principle</a><a class="user" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncertainty_principle</a>
diggometerApr 30, 2007
it couldn't get worse than that, could it?
senatorpenguinApr 30, 2007
Interesting point logik3x... they could just encode the data by altering the speed of light. Nothing special at all.
tehnicoApr 30, 2007
Well of course it can be hacked, the encryption ceases to exist when you examine it.
agentfApr 30, 2007
No fair! They changed the outcome by observing it
co1dfus1onNov 5, 2007
Physics is reality. Not man-made.