Sunday, June 19, 2011

Quantum snake oil

Quantum crypto has been broken again:
Physics World reports on researchers demonstrating a full eavesdropper on a quantum key distribution link. Unlike conventional exploits for security vulnerabilities that are often just a piece of software, spying on quantum cryptography required a box full of optics and mixed-signal electronics. Details are published in Nature Communications, and as a free preprint. The vulnerability was known before, but this is the first actual working exploit with secret-key recording confirmed. Patching this loophole is in progress.
I have pointed out defects in quantum cryptography before. The proponents claim that quantum physics proves that their systems are unbreakable, but they misunderstand the physics. Every such system has been broken.

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