'Unbreakable' encryption introduced

Greg Bernhardt

I think this is the perfect place to discuss the possibilities of quantum cryptography. It seems to have become a reality now. Let's discuss whether this truly is unbreakable! We've heard it before, but is it different this time?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7661311.stm

shoehorn

No encryption can be "unbreakable."

This holds by definition.

Greg Bernhardt

So if someone could break it then that would mean we have to rewrite the science books?

CRGreathouse

One-time pad? Quantum entanglement?

mgb_phys

It's not encryption it's only secure fibre links - this is not new (although the range might be a record)
It does however solve a problem that isn't the problem - it stops you being able to eavesdrop on a fibre by patching into the fibre.
If you have traffic data encrypted with modern algorithms like AES this isn't a problem.
The main drawback is that you can still eavesdrop everytime it goes through a switch or router - this technique only works for a single unbroken length of single mode fibre between two points.

DaleSpam

I don't see how this would protect from a "man in the middle" attack either. It seems a lot of effort for little benefit.

mgb_phys

It doesn't.

It's the classic security thing - a technology solution to a human problem.
eg. the cleaners found someone's password in the trash: solution double the number of bits in the encryption.