Quantum computing is generally considered non-threatening to symmetric ciphers. Quantum attacks on symmetric ciphers require a thorough analysis of their internal structures, posing considerable difficulties and challenges. As of 2023, Google’s quantum supremacy chip, Sycamore, is still incapable of cryptanalysis. Leveraging D-Wave’s quantum annealing exploits the unique quantum tunneling effect, providing an edge in solving combinatorial optimization problems. It can be regarded as a class of artificial intelligence algorithm that can achieve global optimization. We propose a quantum heuristic symmetric cipher attack algorithm for substitution-permutation network (SPN) symmetric ciphers, which transforms the plaintext-ciphertext propagation rules within SPN structure into the problem of solving a constrained quadratic model (CQM). A novel reduction algorithm is employed to eliminate redundant constraint conditions. The D-Wave Advantage quantum computer is used to recover the encryption sub-keys. Using the quantum approximate optimization algorithm, IBM Q Experience can only recover two rounds of the Heys Cipher sub-key, whereas D-Wave Advantage achieves complete key recovery, validating its potential in quantum symmetric cipher attacks.

Integer factorization, the core of the Rivest−Shamir−Adleman (RSA) attack, is an exciting but formidable challenge. As of this year, a group of researchers’ latest quantum supremacy chip remains unavailable for cryptanalysis. Quantum annealing (QA) has a unique quantum tunneling advantage, which can escape local extremum in the exponential solution space, finding the global optimal solution with a higher probability. Consequently, we consider it an effective method for attacking cryptography. According to Origin Quantum Computing, QA computers are able to factor numbers several orders of magnitude larger than universal quantum computers. We try to transform the integer factorization problem in RSA attacks into a combinatorial optimization problem by using the QA algorithm of D-Wave quantum computer, and attack RSA-2048 which is composed of a class of special integers. The experiment factored this class of integers of size 2²⁰⁴⁸, N=p×q. As an example, the article gives the results of 10 RSA-2048 attacks in the appendix. This marks the first successful factorization of RSA-2048 by D-Wave quantum computer, regardless of employing mathematical or quantum techniques, despite dealing with special integers, exceeding 2¹⁰⁶¹−1 of California State University. This experiment verifies that the QA algorithm based on D-Wave is an effective method to attack RSA.

This work is the first to determine that a real quantum computer (including generalized and specialized) can decipher million-scale RSA relying solely on quantum algorithms, showing the real attack potential of D-Wave machines. The influence of different column widths on RSA factorization results is studied on the basis of a multiplication table, and the optimal column method is determined by traversal experiments. The traversal experiment of integer factorization within 10 000 shows that the local field and coupling coefficients are 75%–93% lower than the research of Shanghai University in 2020 and more than 85% lower than that of Purdue University in 2018. Extremely low Ising model parameters are crucial to reducing the hardware requirements, prompting factoring 1245407 on the D-Wave 2000Q real machine. D-Wave advantage already has more than 5000 qubits and will be expanded to 7000 qubits during 2023–2024, with remarkable improvements in decoherence and topology. This machine is expected to promote the solution of large-scale combinatorial optimization problems. One of the contributions of this paper is the discussion of the long-term impact of D-Wave on the development of post-quantum cryptography standards.

The intelligent transportation system (ITS) integrates a variety of advanced science and technology to support and monitor road traffic systems and accelerate the urbanization process of various countries. This paper analyzes the shortcomings of ITS, introduces the principle of quantum computing and the performance of universal quantum computer and special-purpose quantum computer, and shows how to use quantum advantages to improve the existing ITS. The application of quantum computer in transportation field is reviewed from three application directions: path planning, transportation operation management, and transportation facility layout. Due to the slow development of the current universal quantum computer, the D-Wave quantum machine is used as a breakthrough in the practical application. This paper makes it clear that quantum computing is a powerful tool to promote the development of ITS, emphasizes the importance and necessity of introducing quantum computing into intelligent transportation, and discusses the possible development direction in the future.