8/13/2019 Doble - Mundos Paralelos
1/3
Snowden Reveals NSAs Classified Quantum
Computing Project
The US agency is building a machine that could make all
encryption obsolete
OnJanuary 3, 2014byMax Smolaks4
The US National Security Agency (NSA) is building aquantum
computerthat has the potentialto break all popular cryptographic
algorithms, as well as create completely new types
ofencryption.
Quantum computers can theoretically solve complex problems
massively faster thanconventional systems, and the NSA has a $79.7
million (48.5m) research programme calledPenetrating Hard Targets
to try and develop one, according to classified documents
supplied
by Edward Snowden and published by theWashington Post.It is not
clear whether the NSAlaboratories are ahead of the results achieved
by thewider scientific community- or anywherenear providing
practical quantum computing at all.
Even before Snowden first disclosed details of the US agencys
surveillance practices,encryption was already used by businesses
and individuals that wished to keep theircommunications private.
However theoretical it is at present, the NSAs project could one
dayrender these efforts pointless.
Yahoo recently announced it would introduce encryption across
all of its products and servicesby March 2014.Microsoft is
reportedly consideringa similar move.Google had started
securing
its information a while ago, but the adoption of encryption
measures was accelerated after thestart of the NSA scandal.
Be very afraid
Quantum computers interact with information using quantum bits
or qubits, which can mean
both 1 and0 simultaneously. These machines can therefore process
multiple inputs at thesame timeeffectively in parallel universesand
determine the right answer to problems whichhave a huge numbers of
possible solutions, as long as their qubits can be kept in a
coherent state,isolated from the outside world.
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/date/2014/01/03http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/date/2014/01/03http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/date/2014/01/03http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/author/msmolakshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/author/msmolakshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/snowden-reveals-nsas-classified-quantum-computing-project-134952#commentshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/snowden-reveals-nsas-classified-quantum-computing-project-134952#commentshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/snowden-reveals-nsas-classified-quantum-computing-project-134952#commentshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/government-quantum-computing-133725http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/government-quantum-computing-133725http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/government-quantum-computing-133725http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.htmlhttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/canadian-scientists-claim-major-breakthrough-quantum-computing-131981http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/canadian-scientists-claim-major-breakthrough-quantum-computing-131981http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/canadian-scientists-claim-major-breakthrough-quantum-computing-131981http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/yahoo-encrypt-traffic-products-early-2014-132212http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/yahoo-encrypt-traffic-products-early-2014-132212http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/microsoft-considers-encryption-protect-customers-government-spies-132800http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/microsoft-considers-encryption-protect-customers-government-spies-132800http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/microsoft-considers-encryption-protect-customers-government-spies-132800http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/microsoft-considers-encryption-protect-customers-government-spies-132800http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/yahoo-encrypt-traffic-products-early-2014-132212http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/canadian-scientists-claim-major-breakthrough-quantum-computing-131981http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/nsa-seeks-to-build-quantum-computer-that-could-crack-most-types-of-encryption/2014/01/02/8fff297e-7195-11e3-8def-a33011492df2_story.htmlhttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/government-quantum-computing-133725http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/snowden-reveals-nsas-classified-quantum-computing-project-134952#commentshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/author/msmolakshttp://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/date/2014/01/03
8/13/2019 Doble - Mundos Paralelos
2/3
These properties are especially useful in cryptography,
AIdevelopment and high performance computing, where quantum
computers can solve certainproblems much faster than conventional
machines.
The NSA has been accused of indiscriminately collecting phone
records and onlinecommunications in various countries around the
world, and the debate about whether its spying
on US citizens could be considered unconstitutional is still
raging on.
Ownership of a quantum computer would allow the agency to use
the brute force approach to
crack conventional encryption methods, breaching the last line
of defence against excessivesurveillance.
According to the Washington Post, contracts related to the
Penetrating Hard Targetsprogramme are classified and all work is
conducted in a purpose-built laboratory featuring largeFaraday
cagesenclosures designed to block external electric fields.
The application of quantum technologies to encryption algorithms
threatens to dramatically
impact the US governments ability to both protect its
communications and eavesdrop on thecommunications of foreign
governments, said an internal memo leaked by Snowden.
While theres some concern about the programme, no company has
managed to build a fullyoperational, large-scale quantum computer
yet.
So far, the most successful attempt at creating such a device
has been made byD-Wave,the firstand only commercial quantum
computer company, which has sold its designs to clients
includingGoogle and NASA. However, the D-Wave chips cannot run the
specific algorithm used to matchlong prime numbers and break
encryption.
The NSA had been previously accused of paying $10 million to
security software developer RSAin order to get backdoors into two
of its cryptography tools. RSAcategorically
deniedtheallegations.
Meanwhile Edward Snowden, charged with espionage in the US, is
reportedlyworking as techsupportfor a major Russian website.
What do you know about whi stleblowers and their tech?
http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/quantum-computing-d-wave-127750http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/quantum-computing-d-wave-127750http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/quantum-computing-d-wave-127750http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/rsa-nsa-bribe-cryptography-backdoor-134610http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/rsa-nsa-bribe-cryptography-backdoor-134610http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/rsa-nsa-bribe-cryptography-backdoor-134610http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/edward-snowden-work-tech-support-russian-website-130776http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/rsa-nsa-bribe-cryptography-backdoor-134610http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/quantum-computing-d-wave-127750
