America’s National Security Agency “isn’t really sure when or even if quantum computers will be able to crack public key cryptography,” writes TechRadar.
They report that the NSA “has expressed its reservations about the potential of quantum computing” in a new FAQ titled Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography.
“NSA does not know when or even if a quantum computer of sufficient size and power to exploit public key cryptography (a CRQC) will exist,” said the security agency in response to whether it is worried about the potential of adversarial use of quantum computing. In the FAQ, the NSA describes a Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer (CRQC) as a quantum computer that’s capable of actually attacking real world cryptographic systems, something that’s currently infeasible.
While it agrees that such a computer would be “devastating” to the digital security infrastructure, it seems to suggest that it doesn’t believe such a CRQC would ever materialize.
However, the growing research in quantum computing has moved the agency to also support the development of post-quantum cryptographic standards, along with plans for eventual transition to such standards.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.