After coming out of the Jinling Institute for Advanced Study, Director Li did not stop at Jinling, but rushed back to Beijing overnight.

It took him two full days to visit the top experts engaged in quantum computing in major semiconductor research institutes in Beijing, and implicitly consulted them about the security of quantum computing technology.

Office of the Director of the Microelectronics Research Center.

After listening to Director Li explain his intentions and express his concerns about the safety of quantum computer technology, Director Wu Jiancheng, who is over seventy years old, smiled and rejected his proposal without hesitation.

"Your worries are unfounded, quantum computers do pose a threat to the security of asymmetric encryption algorithms in theory, but this technology is not something that can be broken through in a short period of time."

"At the moment, even the most advanced quantum computers can only reach just over 20 qubits. Google's D-Wave is unique in this regard, making eighty of them, but that thing is actually very watery, and it does not use quantum gate circuits to control qubits, but uses quantum annealing algorithms to take shortcuts, and traditional supercomputing can even do better than it with the same algorithm, which is very controversial in academia and industry. ”

"And whether it's a true quantum computer with more than 20 qubits or a pseudo quantum computer with more than 80 qubits, it's still a bit difficult to crack modern encryption. Taking the most common RSA encryption algorithm as an example, given the difficulty of the currently widely used element factorization problem, there is no problem at all in dealing with a quantum computer with less than 200 qubits. ”

Director Li said in a cautious tone: "There is no problem at all, what does this mean?" ”

Director Wu Jiancheng continued: "The cracking cycle is more than one year, which means that even a quantum computer with 200 qubits will have to spend more than a year to crack your bank card password. In the meantime, as long as the key changes, everything has to start all over again. ”

No cryptographic rule is theoretically a public key that is used to death, and when either of the two parties evaluates that there may be a security risk, they will request a replacement of the public key.

Looking at Director Li, who still wouldn't let him go, he sighed and continued in a relieved tone.

"The development of technology is a slow process, and when we master a quantum computer in the real sense, we will naturally develop the corresponding encryption algorithm, and we really don't need to worry too much about this thing!"

"But what if," Director Lee tried to make up a reason, continued, "if it happens...... In a situation like the explosion of technology, we or our enemies suddenly have mastered quantum computer technology—"

"This situation is impossible," interrupting Director Li's words, Director Wu Jiancheng said without hesitation, "The so-called technological explosion is just a layman's statement!" There is a linear progression of any new technology from discovery to maturity on a time scale, especially in the 21st century, when research has changed from working alone to working in teams. ”

"If you think quantum computer technology can break through tomorrow, then you can definitely find an earlier paper on solving the problem of 'decoherence' and 'noise processing'! I can give you the latest data from the database right now, and I can tell you for sure that none of the problems I mentioned have a good solution so far! ”

Looking at the determined expression on the face of this Director Wu, Director Li's expression was a little subtlely embarrassed.

He wanted to tell him the truth, but the stakes were a bit high, and all those who knew about the situation had been told to keep it a secret, and he couldn't make an exception himself.

“…… Am I not assuming? You can't guarantee that someone else will find out if they will hide it. ”

Seeing that Director Li was still "stubborn" and superstitious about this kind of fanciful thing, Director Wu Jiancheng didn't bother to argue with him, and reluctantly nodded and said.

"If it's the kind you say, a quantum computer jumped out of the rock."

"Maybe it really threatens our information security."

Hearing this, a stone in Director Li's heart finally fell, but another heavier stone was put on it.

Sure enough, his worries were not unfounded!

Fortunately, he found out in time, and everything still has a chance to be remedied......

At the end of today's visit, Director Li went straight back to his office.

It took a whole day to write the report, and then he took it to Chang'an Avenue.

As he stood in the familiar office, he saw the old man sitting behind the mahogany table, wearing glasses and staring at the letter paper in his hand meticulously.

I don't know if it's his delusion, but I always feel that this letter is a little familiar.

However, he didn't think much of it, and reached out and knocked lightly on the open door.

Looking at Director Li at the door, the old man smiled faintly, lowered the letter in his hand a few inches, and said in a gentle tone.

"You're here?"

"Hmm...... There's one thing I have to report back to you. ”

Director Li nodded, stepped forward, and said in a serious tone, "I went to Jinling two days ago, and our Academician Lu brought us another surprise. ”

"Since it's a surprise, why are you so serious with such a serious expression?"

Hearing Director Li's words, the old man smiled, raised his hand to signal him to stop first, and handed over the letter in his hand.

"Take this letter and read it first."

After a slight hesitation, Director Li took the letter from the old man's hand.

After glancing at it twice, he was stunned for a moment, then a helpless smile appeared on his face, and he returned the letter to the smiling old man.

“…… It seems that Professor Lu has thought it through. ”

"Yes," the old man nodded with a smile and said with emotion, "It is a blessing for the Republic to have a scholar like Academician Lu. ”

After a pause, he restrained the smile on his face and continued with a businesslike expression.

"Tell me what you think of this letter."

Director Li pondered for a long time and spoke.

"My advice is to keep it secret for now."

The expression on the old man's face did not change, and he just asked.

"Why?"

"Although quantum computer technology has made breakthroughs, as Professor Lu warned us in his letter, our society does not yet have a set of encryption algorithms that can cope with this decryption method."

Speaking of this, Director Li paused for a moment and hurriedly glanced at the expression on the old man's face.

Seeing that the old man nodded, he relieved himself and continued.

“…… I suggest that the Chinese Academy of Sciences let out some rumors first, so that all sectors of society can be prepared for this advanced research. After all, if it's Professor Lu......"

Speaking of this, Director Li made a helpless smile on his face.

"I'm afraid it will really cause panic."

The old man nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with this.

If it's a long-term process, it's fine.

From the birth of a technology to its maturity, society may have already imperceptibly adapted to the changes brought about by it.

However, if it is suddenly announced that quantum computer technology has achieved a breakthrough from less than 100 qubits to more than 500 or even 1,000 bits, it is undoubtedly equivalent to announcing that the original encryption rules are directly invalid.

The impact on finance – and indeed on all industries that depend on information security – is like an atomic bomb thrown directly over the head. Society as a whole has had to adapt to this drastic change in a drastic way.

If someone else is behind the scenes, there is really no way that crazy things like "get all the money out of the bank" and "stop all online transactions" will happen.

Considering the influence of Professor Lu himself......

There is almost no doubt that these things are bound to happen.

After all, for this scholar who does what he says and never exaggerates, almost the vast majority of people would not suspect that the news that came out of his mouth might be fake.

After pondering for a long time, the old man spoke: "This matter can't be pressed all the time, we have to consider Academician Lu's feelings. Moreover, the risks posed by new technologies must be considered, but preventing the birth of new technologies is an act that goes against the tide of history, and this kind of thing cannot be done. ”

"That's what I think too," Director Li nodded, "so my suggestion is that, on the one hand, let the Chinese Academy of Sciences let out some rumors first, and use a research team that is not so sensitive, but not small, to artificially create heat in this area first." Combined with other propaganda machines, quantum computers will become the next technological outlet. ”

Old man: "On the other hand? ”

Director Li: "On the other hand, it's just like what Academician Lu proposed! We must master a cryptographic algorithm that is difficult for even quantum computers to crack! Once we can master this algorithm, all the risks that quantum computing may bring will be translated into what we need in this round of information technology revolution. Hit the advantage! ”

slapped his thigh, and the old man said with an approving expression.

"That's right! What do you think...... Who is better given this task? ”

Looking at the old man's blazing pupils, Director Li made a helpless expression in his heart.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this old man actually has a suitable candidate in his heart, but he clearly intends to bring it up.

“…… Information encryption is the specialty of mathematicians, and Academician Lu is the top mathematician in our country. What's more, he also made the quantum computer, and no one knows the sharpness of this spear better than him. Even if it is psychological, the 'shield' created by him will have a greater sense of security than the others make it. ”

"I propose that Professor Lu be in charge."

Hearing the answer that met his expectations, an approving smile appeared on the old man's face.

"This proposal is good, I will personally write a reply to Academician Lu and appoint him to complete this arduous and glorious task!"

"As for the rest, I'll do as you say."

Feeling the heavy pressure on his shoulders, Director Li nodded heavily.

"Yes!"