Re:How do computers generate random numbers?
by hinkley on Wednesday September 08, 2021 @01:08PM
(#28460005)
Specifically, PRNGs based on cryptographic algorithms (CSPRNGs) resist loss of existing entropy from having new, low entropy sources appended to the stream.
To my thinking, what is more important is that you don’t fool yourself about the amount of entropy from one source, or among sources. Two entropy sources that are dependent variables may be good separately but not together. Like the timings of keystrokes and network packets may be affected by the scheduler, or the fact that you are typing into a remote editor session which is bouncing ACKs back, or auto saving every time you hit enter or change focus.
To my thinking, what is more important is that you don’t fool yourself about the amount of entropy from one source, or among sources. Two entropy sources that are dependent variables may be good separately but not together. Like the timings of keystrokes and network packets may be affected by the scheduler, or the fact that you are typing into a remote editor session which is bouncing ACKs back, or auto saving every time you hit enter or change focus.