Still, as far as is commonly known, mathematically cracking encryption where the algorithm is good and keys are large and unique remains impractical for conventional computers. If they’re secretly way ahead on quantum computing (which seems unlikely), or if they have discovered mathematical vulnerabilities in common algorithms that have not been published, then that’s a different matter. But as far as we know, it must still be difficult for them to attack encryption directly. You suggest you know more than you can say, but if I were them I’d be looking at putting backdoors into phone/computer hardware to get hold of communications before they are E2E encrypted, and/or placing subtle vulnerabilities in open-source code.
But this is not like the past. Quantum computers is not an step in evolution, it is a jump, as if from no computers to computers. Of course it’s possible, but there is no basis or indication for it and so no reason to assume it. Why believe the less likely thing instead of the more likely?
Which one? A super computer? Its just faster than a conventional computer by a factor that doesn’t matter. A quantum computer? The public field would be way closer to that if “the government” had one that would be useful.
Still, as far as is commonly known, mathematically cracking encryption where the algorithm is good and keys are large and unique remains impractical for conventional computers. If they’re secretly way ahead on quantum computing (which seems unlikely), or if they have discovered mathematical vulnerabilities in common algorithms that have not been published, then that’s a different matter. But as far as we know, it must still be difficult for them to attack encryption directly. You suggest you know more than you can say, but if I were them I’d be looking at putting backdoors into phone/computer hardware to get hold of communications before they are E2E encrypted, and/or placing subtle vulnerabilities in open-source code.
Conventional computers…
What do you think they have? Alien computers? Not even super-computers make a dent in decryption.
If it’s anything like their past, they have at least 2 working Quantum computers.
But this is not like the past. Quantum computers is not an step in evolution, it is a jump, as if from no computers to computers. Of course it’s possible, but there is no basis or indication for it and so no reason to assume it. Why believe the less likely thing instead of the more likely?
Not a conventional computer. Would you agree?
Which one? A super computer? Its just faster than a conventional computer by a factor that doesn’t matter. A quantum computer? The public field would be way closer to that if “the government” had one that would be useful.
Obviously you are not aware a Quantum does not operate like a conventional computer. That’s fine. No reason to go further.
Oh, but I am. That’s why I said what I said. Even if they have one, it will be severely lacking; indicated by where public research is at.