tech-userlevel archive

[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Old Index]

Re: Waiting for Randot (or: nia and maya were right and I was wrong)



On Thu, 14 Jan 2021, Manuel Bouyer wrote:

And what about systems that don't have a /dev/audio (or system that have
play-only /dev/audio) ?


Is this OK (or, it is hopelessly insecure)?:

1. Use environment (keyb. delay, mouse, ...) to seed the libc PRNG.

2. Use the PRNG values to pick out random bits from a truely random
   file.

The random file is generated anew each time an distrib. image is built.
If one needs 256 bits to seed /dev/random, then a 32K random file should
suffice.

The other alternative is the user mashing the keyboard and moving a mouse
for a few minutes.

-RVP


Home | Main Index | Thread Index | Old Index