Researchers at Shangai University recently made headlines for purportedly breaking the RSA encryption algorithms used in banking, military, and cryptocurrency applications. However, popular YouTuber Mental Outlaw says the recent breakthrough in China lacks the power to impact current encryption standards due to severe computation and physical limitations.
According to the research paper, the quantum computer used in the experiment factorized the integer 2,269,753. Mental Outlaw noted that this surpassed records set by other quantum computers but failed to surpass the record set by classical computers.
The YouTuber clarified that the quantum computer only broke a 22-bit key. For context, the record set by classical computers was cracking an 892-bit key, which required a whopping 2,700 physical core years to break.
Encryption algorithms and key sizes. Source: Mental Outlaw.
For perspective, early RSA encryption used 512-bit keys, with modern standards adopted around 2015 ranging from 2048 to 4096 bits. Moreover, quantum computers cannot be combined to achieve greater processing power and overcome this limitation.
Quantum bits also require near-absolute zero temperatures to remain stable enough to function as viable information processors, which requires significant cooling infrastructure.
Another issue highlighted in the YouTube video is that most of the quantum bits in a quantum computing system are dedicated to error correction. This means the vast majority of the potential processing power in a quantum computer is used to correct outputs rather than solving the main problem fed to the computer.
The popular YouTuber concluded that quantum computers do not yet pose a significant threat to modern encryption standards but warned that this may change due to faster-than-expected technological progress.
Tech companies rush to create quantum-resistant cryptography
Tech firms are already taking action to ensure that encryption standards remain quantum-resistant. In July 2023, banking giant HSBC revealed it was experimenting with quantum-resistant banking infrastructure.
Later, in September 2023, IBM Quantum and Microsoft formed a quantum cryptography coalition to study and develop encryption safeguards in the post-quantum world.
More recently, in February 2024, Apple joined the growing list of tech companies applying post-quantum cryptography by making iMessage quantum-resistant.
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