NSA Building Quantum Supercomputer To Crack Encrypted Data

[Saltyk]

This isn't that surprising. The Pentagon likes to come up with crazy ideas and try to see if they can get them off the ground all the time. You'd be surprised how many insane programs we have put into motion. You'd also be surprised how many of them actually paid off. I remember reading about an awkward seeming device that a person could use to swim much faster without using any type of machine. And it worked.

They basically heard of some crazy idea and decided: "I wonder if we can get that to work. Throw some money at it, see if anything sticks."

Worst case scenario, nothing comes of it in the immediate future, but it does help with future research in Quantum Computing. Well, that or the NSA pulls it off and uses on civilians and civilian companies, not just in the US, but in other countries. But one thing at a time here.

 

[Something Amyss]

So phone hacking, bots and software flaws are not enough? Why can't the NSA do something usefull?

Because they're a government agency.

*rimshot*

The research program is titled "Penetrating Hard Targets".

Between this and the "Octopus" satellite, it seems like people's browsing history has starting to take its toll on the NSA.

Either that or this is an epic Federal troll. I'm betting someone at the NSA never quite got over being Rick Rolled when looking for Smash Brothers info.

 

[Something Amyss]

Anyhow, you know what this sounds very much like to me? A certain book written and released 15 years ago...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Fortress

Which in turn sounds very much like a boilerplate work involving government surveillance.

 

[lacktheknack]

Anonymous and all kinds of rebellious elements have my blessing to take that thing out.

[This post has been flagged by the NSA, CIA, ASIS, M5,MSS]

Take what out? They haven't actually come up with anything yet.

That's like saying "Bomb this forest where there will eventually be a city".

OT: Should have dumped their money into a photon computer.

 

[Groxnax]

i hope they spend months decrypting an encrypted archive in hopes to find information on terrorist only to stumble upon some rickroll videos.

Or grandma's recipe book.

LOL.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

So what's next NSA? Cameras in everyone's homes? propaganda theatres? BTW I don't even know what a quantum computer is supposed to be. Sounds like science fiction.

 

[Kargathia]

The research program is titled "Penetrating Hard Targets".

Between this and the "Octopus" satellite, it seems like people's browsing history has starting to take its toll on the NSA.

When you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back. And chucks some hentai at you.

 

[DazBurger]

So phone hacking, bots and software flaws are not enough? Why can't the NSA do something usefull?

Not something usefull?
They are developing quantum computers! That is money well spent!

 

[Alar]

So they are not "building" a quantum computer, they failed to do so.
Get your headlines straight.

'Developing' would be a better title, yeah.

Also, scientists have already figured out a way to crack quantum encryption. :\

I can't find the article in question (it was on ScienceDaily), but they theoretically figured out how to break it.

So what's next NSA? Cameras in everyone's homes? propaganda theatres? BTW I don't even know what a quantum computer is supposed to be. Sounds like science fiction.

You know how current computing relies on bits and binary? Little electrical pulses that carry data? Think of that, only much, much, much, much, much, much smaller. It would use 'quantum bits' or 'qubits', which are ridiculously smaller. True quantum computers would be immeasurably faster. Personally I think they should work on fiber optic computing first, which is literally just using pulses of light instead of electricity. It's also considerably faster than current computing, though not as fast as quantum.

 

[Alar]

EDIT: Accidental double post.

 

[Therumancer]

The way I see it is the theory is practical and it's more a matter of when someone does it, than if, and like most technological innovations we want to be the first ones to get it and stay ahead of everyone else, especially when it comes to technology with far reaching security, military, and intelligence applications. I'd imagine most major governments have teams working on this kind of thing just like we are, albeit the US is far more into public
disclosure than most governments are despite claims to the contrary (and domestic criticism).

At the end of the day the NSA doesn't seem to be hiding this, as I've been aware of this kind of thing for a long time now (and someone else referenced reading articles on it as well). In general certain aspects of the government tend to be a generation or so ahead in terms of technology, and to be honest I'd imagine the NSA is ahead of the civilian sector because if they weren't you'd start seeing a lot of that research seized, or the people involved brought into the government given the stakes involved in something like this.

I'll also say I'm not totally paranoid about a mechanical takeover if we develop AIs/Robotics, etc... I believe people and self aware machines can co-exist just fine. You know... like Asimov's actual writings, as opposed to that crappy "I Robot" movie that somehow managed to get made despite having exactly the opposite message. I'm a fan of more optimistic science fiction with humans and artificial life forms working together for space exploration and the like. What's more even if mechanical life DID become arguably superior, that is no reason for it to immediately become genocidal.

The odd thing about most "machine war" fiction is that a lot of it seems to start when a machine becomes self aware and then people decide to immediately try and kill it as a result, ultimately creating the very problem.

 

[TiberiusEsuriens]

I'm surprised no one has been joking about Dan Brown's Digital Fortress. It is a Dan Brown book I know, and it is from the 90s, but I'd say it defines this situation exactly.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

So what's next NSA? Cameras in everyone's homes? propaganda theatres? BTW I don't even know what a quantum computer is supposed to be. Sounds like science fiction.

You know how current computing relies on bits and binary? Little electrical pulses that carry data? Think of that, only much, much, much, much, much, much smaller. It would use 'quantum bits' or 'qubits', which are ridiculously smaller. True quantum computers would be immeasurably faster. Personally I think they should work on fiber optic computing first, which is literally just using pulses of light instead of electricity. It's also considerably faster than current computing, though not as fast as quantum.

Thanks. I still can't quite wrap my head around it, but that helps.

 

[RoonMian]

I take personal exception to this as someone whose family has been affected by fascism, and then fled to escape communism. I don't support what the NSA is doing, but the NSA isn't pulling people out of their homes and detaining them indefinitely and/or murdering them due to their race and/or political beliefs. You wanna make a heavy-handed point, I get it, but the two simply aren't comparable and I'd appreciate it if you didn't make your points on the backs of millions of murdered innocents.

I am so with you on this. It really drives me up the wall when someone says "grammarnazi", too.

 

[Callate]

I'm honestly a little surprised there hasn't been more call for stripping the NSA of its funding by now.

Perhaps they found something in certain senators' browsing histories.

 

[Cecilthedarkknight_234]

Gee there goes the need of using a proxy now. I really hope all my anime porn & game downloads are well documented in their super computer, to help support the fight on terrorism. God Bless America!

 

[Sofus]

Hahaha.... 80 mill

I wish the NSA good luck in creating a quantum "supercomputer" with such a pathetic amount of money.

 

[CriticalMiss]

But will it be able to play Doom?

 

[Trivun]

Quick question, where's your avatar from? It's going to be bugging me all day...

LOL, your like the third person to ask me that. I guess there's quite a few perverts her on the escapist.

I'll sent you a PM with the answer.

Haha, can't really call me a pervert when I had no idea where it was from xD. Just thought I recognised the art style from somewhere...

 

[Mahorfeus]

Spoiler: I think I know where this is going...

Admittedly, even after reading the Wikipedia article, I still don't entirely understand what a quantum computer even is...