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Unbreakable encryption

Posted October 16, 2008 11:13 AM

From The Engineer:

What is claimed to be the first commercial communication network using unbreakable encryption has been demonstrated in Vienna by a team from Bristol University and 40 other European institutions. The technology is based on quantum cryptography — a technique that continually and randomly generates new encryption keys (codes) based on a stream of single photons emitted by a laser. Photons have electrical fields that vibrate in different directions. The direction indicates a binary value, meaning photons are encoded with a value of 0 or 1. The network, developed in the EU-funded SECOQC project, is installed in a standard optical fibre communication ring provided by Siemens Österreich in Vienna. Previous developments in quantum cryptography focused on point-to-point connections between one sender and one receiver. Although these solutions are suitable for some applications, such as connecting two data centres in metropolitan areas, there are disadvantages.

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#1

Re: Unbreakable encryption

10/17/2008 2:48 AM

Tsdafjl jfgo nyfgwe7nfd jur nh dfg jj754n! So there!

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#2

Re: Unbreakable encryption

10/17/2008 4:50 AM

Never mind encryption, it takes me ½ an hour to work out what my daughters text messages say.

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#3

Re: Unbreakable encryption

10/17/2008 5:34 AM

If the only application is to bilateral communication I think they have misused a big amount of resources.

They think it's unbreakable because hackers had no time enough.

And how the can say a mathematical proposition has a necessarily positive answer?

Why haven't solved, let's say the Goldbach conjecture?

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#4

Re: Unbreakable encryption

10/17/2008 8:44 AM

I just have a great idea, some of these athletes that get scholarships and go and get a free pass to college just for their athletic ability and take blow off classes.

These colleges should have a encryption major. No one will ever figure out their true intellect abilities.

uuhmm, i'm posting this off topic

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#5

Re: Unbreakable encryption

10/17/2008 11:25 AM

So now all of that UK email that the great faceless voice of authority says it has to have access to for security purposes, can be encrypted and remain private!

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#6

Re: Unbreakable encryption

11/08/2008 5:23 AM

Unbreakable encryption?

I don't think so, because "The Authorities" will be given the keys.

If some information is encrypted, then there will eventually be the un-encryption.

It's just a matter of time and the correct algorithms.

Kind Regards....

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#7

Re: Unbreakable encryption

11/13/2008 7:10 PM

Quantum Encryption is supposedly unviewable by outsiders due to fact that the wave will have to be collapsed before it reaches the receiver in order to be viewed by others. Supposedly this gets rid of wire taps. But hey, what about all this work in quantum interfaces and quantum coherent holograms. As long as the tap doesn't "open the box" before the legit users, he can store it in quantum storage, and once the users open it, it is all to see for the tap. The only thing currently missing is a good interface to quantum storage, so this talk of "Unbreakable" is a hype and will only last a few years and eventually will be the same problem with current encryption. I've been breaking "Unbreakable" rakes and combs for as long as I can remember. Besides, calling things "Unbreakable" just drives human spirit enough to make these ridiculous discoveries (next up: quantum storage interface). Thrill of the hunt and what not. Enjoy your tap free systems while they last I guess...

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#8
In reply to #7

Re: Unbreakable encryption

11/14/2008 7:41 AM

A valid point - things can be made foolproof, but then along comes a bigger fool...

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