TaggartMar 3

As of 2026-03-02, the state of the art in quantum decryption has cracked a:

  • 22-bit RSA key
  • 6-bit elliptic curve key

https://forklog.com/en/quantum-computer-cracks-tiny-cryptographic-key

The IBM QC that cracked the 6-bit key uses 133 qubits.

Some new research suggests that RSA-2048 could be cracked with as "few" as 100,000 qubits.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2516404-breaking-encryption-with-a-quantum-computer-just-got-10-times-easier/

(Paywall-free)

Such a machine...is not feasible to build any time soon.

So when your CISO or a vendor starts going off about "post-quantum" security, feel free to use this to remind them that we still have SMB1 in some places and Telnet in others. Plenty of work to do around the house.

Quantum Computer Cracks ‘Tiny’ Cryptographic Key | ForkLog

forklog.media
Show threadbuherator
@mttaggart CISOs don't usually do priority inversion alone: it's often compliance that makes not doing PQ expensive (penatly, non-compliance), while doing telnet cheap (cOMpeNsAtiOn cOnTRol).

(Side note: PQ should be easy to implement)
Mar 3 at 9:07amWeb
Show threadThe Doctor2d ago

@buherator @mttaggart Yep. Even if we know the score, regulators don't care. To avoid being fined we smile, nod, and do the thing.

#BTDT