A team of Chinese researchers has successfully executed a quantum attack on widely used encryption algorithms, posing a “real and substantial threat” to sectors like banking and military. The attack was conducted using the D-Wave Advantage quantum computer, which was initially designed for non-cryptographic applications.
The researchers targeted three specific algorithms – Present, Gift-64, and Rectangle – that are foundational for advanced encryption standards like AES (Advanced Encryption Standard). Although they did not crack the specific passcodes used in these algorithms, their attack demonstrates a potential vulnerability in existing cryptographic systems.
The D-Wave Advantage uses quantum annealing, a technique that simulates a process similar to metallurgy to find the lowest energy state. This method allows the computer to rapidly solve complex mathematical problems and bypass obstacles that classical methods cannot.
Despite this achievement, the researchers acknowledged limitations such as environmental interference, underdeveloped hardware, and the challenge of developing a single attack method for multiple encryption systems. However, they suggest that their work frames a real-world encryption issue as a binary optimization problem suitable for a quantum computer.
This study highlights the ongoing evolution in quantum computing and its potential to reveal new vulnerabilities in existing cryptographic systems. As scientists push the limits of what these machines can accomplish, concerns about security mechanisms used in banking and military sectors will grow.
Source: https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/10/11/chinese-scientists-report-using-quantum-computer-to-hack-military-grade-encryption/