Scientist claims to have broken RSA-2048 by using a cellphone, or a Linux desktop

Ed Gerck, Ph.D., the founding mind behind Planalto Research, has recently made an astounding announcement on LinkedIn. Gerck proclaimed that his team has made significant strides in quantum computing, claiming the successful decryption of an RSA-2048 key—a breakthrough potentially heralding a new epoch in cryptography and information security.

Gerck describes the quantum computer used by his team as operating on the principle of ‘all states at once,’ offering more than a googol of possible states—this number, astronomically vast, is equivalent to ten raised to the power of one hundred, dwarfing the number of atoms in the observable cosmos.

Intriguingly, Gerck suggests that the technologies applied in their quantum computations have remained ‘hidden‘ for some 2,500 years, tracing back to the era of Pythagoras.

What sets this accomplishment apart is that the calculations were performed using commercially available mobile phones and a Linux desktop computer, without reliance on cryogenic technology or specialized materials, thus expanding the potential for quantum technologies’ mass-market applications across various industries.

Gerck also mentioned that his team is in the process of developing a novel post-quantum solution to secure Internet data, compliant with HIPAA standards, unpatented, and free from the need for export licenses. This encryption system, building upon the legacy of ZSentry, which operated from 2004 to 2014, is poised to replace the antiquated RSA standard. This change is necessitated by the critical demand for algorithms capable of withstanding quantum computational assaults, given that today’s prevalent public-key encryption algorithms are vulnerable to quantum prowess.

In light of this development, Gerck urges the United States National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to promptly declare RSA obsolete, to avoid escalating risks to data security.

While Gerck has not furnished empirical evidence to substantiate his claims, should his assertions of a successful RSA-2048 decryption be substantiated, it would mark a revolutionary catalyst for the development of new encryption algorithms impervious to quantum hacking.