[Cryptography] Has quantum cryptanalysis actually achieved anything?

[Jon Callas]

> On Feb 24, 2025, at 06:59, Florian Weimer <fw at deneb.enyo.de> wrote:
> 
> * Jon Callas:
> 
>> The next technological step we need is a quantum computer that is
>> basically a REPL loop. You tell it a number you want to factor and
>> it does it. Poof.
> 
> But it is this relevant?  If it actually worked for numbers of a
> relevant size, would it matter if it took twenty technicians a week or
> two to physically reconfigure the system for factoring a different number?

I think so, yes, because it gives us an indication of actual progress. When they can reconfigure after a day, we know something. When it can be done in an hour, we know something. 

I believe that my challenge is saying the same thing as Peter's sleight-of-hand comments. Let us pick an actual arbitrary (meaning mostly random) number and factor it. 

	Jon