Chinese scientists at Shanghai University have reportedly used a quantum computer from the Canadian firm D-Wave to break RSA encryption, a widely used system that protects sensitive information in web browsers, VPNs, and major tech brands’ devices.
The team achieved the “first 50-bit RSA integer decomposition,” suggesting quantum computers could pose a significant threat to global encryption systems sooner than anticipated.
This breakthrough underscores growing concerns about quantum technology’s ability to crack systems like RSA and the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which even the U.S. government uses. The Global Risk Institute had warned that quantum computers could break RSA-2048 encryption within the next 30 years, but this new development could accelerate that timeline.
Tech companies like Apple are already developing defenses against future quantum attacks, while researchers call for more robust crypto-agility measures to protect sensitive data.
