The math problem that could break the internet

Unexplainable

Vox

Life Sciences, Science, Natural Sciences

4.6 • 2.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 January 2024

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today's internet is built on a series of locks and keys that protect your private information as it travels through cyberspace. But could all these locks be broken? (Updated from 2022) For more, go to http://vox.com/unexplainable It’s a great place to view show transcripts and read more about the topics on our show. Also, email us! unexplainable@vox.com We read every email. Support Unexplainable by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	20204 is shaping up to be a huge year for the internet, especially because NIST, the National
0:08.9	Institute of Standards and Technology, recently announced that new algorithms they've been working on
0:14.4	to keep the internet secure are going to be ready later this year.
0:18.8	There's no telling just how successful these algorithms are going to be,
0:22.4	but NIST hopes that they'll be able to protect the Internet for the future.
0:26.5	So we wanted to share an episode from our reporters Meredith Hodnott and Brian Resnick
0:30.6	about why the Internet is so vulnerable to breaking in the first place
0:35.5	and why it's so hard to keep it together.
0:39.0	Here's Meredith and Brian.
0:40.9	Hey, Brian.
0:42.1	Hey, Meredith.
0:42.9	I want, I want you to imagine something with me, if you will.
0:46.2	Okay.
0:46.7	All right.
0:47.5	So imagine one day.
0:49.0	You wake up.
0:50.1	Okay.
0:50.8	And the internet is broken.
0:53.2	Oh.
1:01.0	So hackers are getting into your bank accounts, your Twitter accounts, your work email. Instead of loading banner ads, your computer would just like start loading viruses.
1:06.0	Okay.
1:07.0	Great.
	...

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