Early Thursday, Eric Lu, a researcher at AI startup Cognition, caused a stir by posting a sequence of 130 digits on X (formerly Twitter), claiming it “divides RSA-260.” This means Lu successfully factored an RSA number, which is a product of two large secret prime numbers. RSA encryption, a widely used method for securing online communications, relies on the difficulty of factoring such numbers. Although RSA-260 is smaller than those used in modern cryptography, Lu’s achievement is significant as it’s the largest RSA number ever factored. Interestingly, Lu’s method didn’t seem to involve AI, despite some conflicting reports. His process remains unclear, with a humorous suggestion that he used “good old paper and pencil.” RSA numbers were introduced in 1977 as a challenge to factor them, with the contest ending over a decade ago. Lu’s breakthrough highlights ongoing interest in cryptography and its implications for digital security.
QUESTION: How might breakthroughs in factoring RSA numbers impact the future of online security and privacy?
What’s the tech behind the record-breaking RSA-260 crack?
