A team of Chinese researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing that D-Wave’s quantum annealing computers can crack encryption methods used to safeguard sensitive global data. This breakthrough has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community, emphasizing the urgent need for new cryptography solutions.
The research, published in the Chinese Journal of Computers, demonstrates that quantum machines are closer than expected to threatening widely used cryptographic systems, including RSA and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The researchers used D-Wave’s quantum technology to solve cryptographic problems, transforming them into combinatorial optimization problems that can be managed by quantum systems.
The team successfully factorized a 50-bit RSA integer using the D-Wave Advantage system, showcasing the potential of quantum machines to disrupt encryption practices considered secure for decades. This marks a turning point, as quantum computers now pose a substantial threat to classical encryption systems, particularly those based on the Substitution-Permutation Network (SPN) structure.
The implications are profound, with experts warning that quantum computers could soon become a real threat to password protection and data security. Organizations must reassess their security measures in light of these advancements, as many companies are already racing to develop post-quantum cryptographic solutions.
Experts stress the urgency of this issue, emphasizing the need for immediate action to protect data and systems from emerging quantum threats. With quantum systems becoming increasingly accessible and affordable, organizations must prioritize “crypto-agility” and develop layered defenses to counteract the quantum threat.
The research highlights the importance of developing quantum-safe encryption methods, as the time to act is now. As quantum computing continues to evolve, it could enable cyberattacks far more sophisticated than anything seen today, making it critical to implement quantum-resistant encryption measures.
Source: https://www.thebrighterside.news/post/for-the-first-time-ever-researchers-crack-rsa-and-aes-data-encryption