The Latest in IT Security

(Reuters) – The U.S. National Security Agency is trying to develop a computer that could ultimately break most encryption programs, whether they are used to protect other nations spying programs or consumers bank accounts, The Washington Post reported on Thursday. The report, which the newspaper said was based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, comes amid continuing controversy over the spy agencys program to collect the phone records Internet communications of private citizens. In its report on Thursday, The Washington Post said that the NSA is trying to develop a so-called quantum computer that could be used to break encryption codes used to cloak sensitive information. Other, non-governmental researchers are also trying to develop quantum computers, and it is not clear whether the NSA program lags the private efforts or is ahead of them.