Scientist Claims Quantum RSA-2048 Encryption Cracking Breakthrough

hacker
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

A commercial smartphone or Linux computer can be used to crack RSA-2048 encryption, according to a prominent research scientist. Dr Ed Gerck is preparing a research paper with the details but couldn’t hold off from bragging about his incredible quantum computing achievement (if true) on his LinkedIn profile. Let us be clear: the claims seem spurious, but it should be recognized that the world isn’t ready for an off-the-shelf system that can crack RSA-2048, as major firms, organizations, and governments haven’t yet transitioned to encryption tech that is secured for the post-quantum era.

(Image credit: Future)

In his social media post, Gerck states that a humble device like a smartphone can crack the strongest RSA encryption keys in use today due to a mathematical technique that “has been hidden for about 2,500 years – since Pythagoras.” He went on to make clear that no cryogenics or special materials were used in the RSA-2048 key-cracking feat.

BankInfoSecurity reached out to Gerck in search of some more detailed information about his claimed RSA-2048 breakthrough and in the hope of some evidence that what is claimed is possible and practical. Gerck shared an abstract of his upcoming paper. This appears to show that instead of using Shor's algorithm to crack the keys, a system based on quantum mechanics was used, and it can run on a smartphone or PC.

In some ways, it is good that the claimed breakthrough doesn’t claim to use Shor’s algorithm. Alan Woodward, a professor of computer science at the University of Surrey, told BankInfoSecurity that no quantum computer in existence has enough gates to implement Shor’s algorithm and break RSA-2048. So at least this part of Gerck’s explanation checks out. However, the abstract of Gerck’s paper looks like it is “all theory proving various conjectures - and those proofs are definitely in question,” according to Woodward.

The BankInfoSecurity report on Gerck’s “QC Algorithms: Faster Calculation of Prime Numbers” paper quotes other skeptics, most of whom are waiting for more information and proofs before they organize a standing ovation for Gerck.

If you head over to Dr Gerck’s LinkedIn post you can see that the scientist has been busy answering community queries ahead of a full paper publication. He also isn’t afraid of stoking controversy by saying the likes of IBM and Google are “plain wrong” in their interpretations of superposition and entanglement in quantum computing.

Gerck is the developer of a “post-quantum, HIPAA compliant, end-to-end, patent-free, export-free, secure online solution” for cryptography, which he says can be used to replace RSA. This would be handy if his RSA-2048 cracking claims are correct. Naturally, that also raises the question of whether this 'crack' is merely a publicity stunt for his product. 

We will watch with interest to see how this RSA-2048 cracking story develops. It looks almost like a new LK-99 moment, but could have even greater impacts on our lives if the headline claims survive scrutiny.

Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

  • ThomasKinsley
    How does a commercial smartphone use quantum mechanics?
    Reply
  • HaninTH
    ThomasKinsley said:
    How does a commercial smartphone use quantum mechanics?
    It's all in the bits! This is most likely a scam.
    Reply
  • kep55
    Admin said:
    The most secure RSA encryption can now be cracked using a smartphone or PC, according to a new highly-contested scientific paper.

    Scientist Claims Quantum RSA-2048 Encryption Cracking Breakthrough, Met With Scepticism : Read more
    "...as major firms, organizations, and governments haven’t yet transitioned to encryption tech that is secured for the post-quantum era." Hellz-bellz, they haven't even even fully adopted 128 bit encryption from all the hacks, breaks, and thefts reported every day.
    Reply
  • George³
    I'm having a hard time navigating linked.in. The gentleman is a doctor, doctor (two titles?) in what sciences and when did he manage to dig up something hidden from the time of Pythagoras? Maybe a paleontologist?
    Reply
  • bit_user
    ThomasKinsley said:
    How does a commercial smartphone use quantum mechanics?
    He must mean that he's merely simulating the processes used by quantum computers. For example, he might be using stochastic models to simulate quantum annealing.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    George³ said:
    I'm having a hard time navigating linked.in. The gentleman is a doctor, doctor (two titles?) in what sciences and when did he manage to dig up something hidden from the time of Pythagoras? Maybe a paleontologist?
    Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München
    Dr. rer. nat. (Ph.D.) Physics "sehr gut" (maximum) Thesis grade
    1980 - 1983

    Planalto Research
    Ph. D. Computer Science Mathematics and Computer Science A+
    2021 - 2022
    I was going to call 'BS' on labeling him a "scientist", merely because his corporate title is "Chief Scientist", but I guess a PhD in physics qualifies him as a real scientist.

    It does sound odd to me that someone pops out of obscurity and suddenly upturns the whole orthodoxy. I expect he simply made one or more fundamental errors, thereby invalidating all of his findings, but let's wait and see whether his paper can withstand peer review. However, I'm basing this on nothing more than seat-of-the-pants skepticism. So, let's see if his claims turn out to be valid.
    Reply
  • George³
    Yes, it certainly doesn't look like someone who would pick up digging tools and unearth an ancient inscription using a previously unknown mathematical technique. I don't even think there is a mathematical technique that hasn't been discovered. Of course, anyone can invent properties of numbers and actions with them that are not real and useful, even though they operate inside their own limited bubble of fictional parameters.
    Reply
  • ttquantia
    Admin said:
    The most secure RSA encryption can now be cracked using a smartphone or PC, according to a new highly-contested scientific paper.

    Scientist Claims Quantum RSA-2048 Encryption Cracking Breakthrough, Met With Scepticism : Read more
    I would suggest reading some of the most recent papers written by Dr Gerck. They can be found at Google Scholar.

    Based on the style and content of those papers, I strongly believe that the state of health of Dr Gerck is not very good. At least one of the papers seems to be just complete nonsense. And I am being polite by saying "seems to be".
    Reply