Researchers Break RSA with Quantum Computer
Researchers led by Wang Chao from Shanghai University have demonstrated how D-Wave’s quantum computers could potentially break widely used encryption methods like RSA, posing a serious threat to global cybersecurity. Published in the *Chinese Journal of Computers*, the study outlines how D-Wave’s quantum annealing systems can turn cryptographic attacks into optimization problems, making them easier to solve. The team successfully factored a 22-bit RSA integer and also targeted algorithms essential to the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), raising concerns about data security.
The research suggests that quantum computing could threaten existing cryptographic systems sooner than previously anticipated. This includes encryption methods based on the Substitution-Permutation Network (SPN), which underpins many commonly used algorithms. As quantum computing advances, experts like Prabhjyot Kaur from Everest Group emphasize the urgent need for quantum-safe cryptographic solutions to protect sensitive information from potential future attacks.
With this breakthrough, organizations are encouraged to consider transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) to safeguard data against quantum threats. The researchers warn that data encrypted today could be at risk if adversaries capture it now, intending to decrypt it as quantum capabilities grow. The study highlights an urgent need for the cybersecurity community to reassess and strengthen encryption strategies in response to the rapid progress in quantum computing.