According to Fujitsu researchers, quantum computers won’t be able to break modern encryption methods like RSA 2048 for a while.
The researchers simulated a quantum-based assault against RSA using Shor’s algorithm utilising the company’s Fugaku supercomputer and its 39 bit quantum simulator.
They discovered that it would take approximately 10,000 qubits, 2.23 trillion quantum gates, and “a quantum circuit depth of 1.8 trillion” to factor a composite number of 2048 bits, according to a statement from Fujitsu.
The researchers also discovered that it would take a sufficiently powerful fault-tolerant quantum computer 104 days to break RSA.
Tetsuya Izu, senior director of data and security research at Fujitsu, said: “Our research proves that quantum computing doesn’t represent an imminent danger to existing cryptography approaches” while issuing a warning against complacency.
In 1994, American academic Peter Shor put forth his solution for exploiting quantum computers to break encryption.
From 15 to 511, RSA-type integers could be factored by Fujitsu.
The researchers next created quantum circuits to factor composite numbers ranging in size from 10 bits to 25 bits, using the data to determine how much computing power would be required to factor a composite number of 2048 bits.
This week, the 2023 Symposium on Cryptography and Information Security (SCIS 2023) will be held in Kitakyushu City, southern Japan. The findings will be presented there.