[Cryptography] WhatsApp: Why asymmetric key instead of symmetric keys?

[mok-kong shen]

Am 28.04.2016 um 17:08 schrieb Phillip Hallam-Baker:
>
> At this point it seems most likely that someone will find a way to build
> a sufficiently large quantum computer to break RSA before they manage
> the next breakthrough in number theory to break public key systems
> algorithmically or the computers get fast enough to break RSA2048.

A 1 billion Euro project has been announced by the European Commission
aimed at developing quantum technologies over the next 10 years. See
http://europe.newsweek.com/quantum-computing-research-computer-flagship-eu-452167?rm=eu

On the other hand, there appear to be quite a number of physicists who
doubt the chance of realisation of quantum computing, see e.g. a paper:
B. M. Terhal, "The Fragility of Quantum Information?" arXiv:1305.4004V2
(which I as layman can't evaluate). One may also note that the decades
old fusion project hasn't yet bear fruit.

M. K. Shen