Quantum cryptography: state-of-the-art, unbreakable encryption?
The world’s first computer network protected by “unbreakable” quantum cryptography was launched recently at a scentific conference in Vienna.
It connects 6 locations across Vienna and a nearby town, using 200 km of standard fibreoptic cables.
Quantum cryptography is completely different from the usual cryptography currently in use, which are based on mathematical procedures; they are extremely hard, but not impossible to crack, given enough computing power or time.
Quantum cryptography are based on the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle: you cannot measure quantum information without disturbing it. That means a communications channel between 2 users encrypted with quantum cryptography is impossible to eavesdrop without creating a disturbance: the eavesdropper would create a mark on it.
Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7661311.stm
Written by pinolobu on October 10th, 2008 with
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