NSA attempting to build quantum computer that could hack all encrypted data:
report The latest leak from Edward Snowden reveals the government has spent nearly $80 million on a supercomputer exponentially more powerful than a standard computer.
By Stephen Rex Brown / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Friday, January 3, 2014,:
Quantum computers are considered a holy grail of scientific innovation. In theory, they would lead to a giant leap in artificial intelligence — and give the NSA access to virtually all encrypted data.
The NSA has spent nearly $80 million trying to build a quantum supercomputer that could crack virtually all types of data encryption, according to new documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
The Washington Post reports that the secretive agency could use the computer exponentially more powerful than standard computers to hack “banking, medical and government records around the world.”
The government has named the $79.7 million top secret project taking place in a lab in College Park, Md. “Penetrating Hard Targets.”
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So far, the government appears to be no further than scientists attempting to build the megacomputer in public. The computers could in theory lead to rapid advancements in the development of artificial intelligence.
Google announced in May of last year it had opened a Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab in partnership with NASA.
One expert told The Washington Post that the type of quantum computer capable of cracking the toughest data encryption likely won’t be developed within the next five years.
A quantum computer uses quantum bits or qubits, to perform calculations, as opposed to a standard computer that uses binary bits — either 0 or 1.
Qubits can exist simultaneously as zero and one, making calculations occur exponentially faster. By nature the qubits are highly unstable, and most be isolated from their environment — a particularly vexing challenge for scientists.
The latest revelation regarding the NSA’s goal of gaining access to virtually all digitized information comes a week after Snowden declared from Russia his mission “already accomplished.”
The Obama administration has shot down any possibility of offering Snowden clemency or a plea deal. Instead, they say Snowden should return to the U.S. and face trial for charges of espionage and theft.
On Wednesday Snowden’s cause received a boost from the editorial board of two newspapers.
“ It is time for the United States to offer Mr. Snowden a plea bargain or some form of clemency that would allow him to return home, face at least substantially reduced punishment in light of his role as a whistle-blower,” The New York Times wrote.
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The Guardian, which broke the first story of the Snowden leaks, went even further, laying out the case for a pardon.
“We hope that calm heads within the present administration are working on a strategy to allow Mr Snowden to return to the US with dignity,” its editorial board wrote.
The endorsements comes a week after two federal judge said the agency likely violated the constitution, though a third found its phone data collection program legal.
An Obama-appointed panel also suggested reining in the NSA’s surveillance programs and bringing it under further oversight.
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