News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Ask HN: We just had an actual UUID v4 collision... by wpm on Friday May 08, 2026 @11:14PM (#48071464)
Would a CRT TV tuned to channel 3 and no RF input be a good source?
Re:Ask HN: We just had an actual UUID v4 collision... by ssl-3 on Saturday May 09, 2026 @06:39AM (#48073818)
In the sense that RF noise can be a source of entropy: Sorta*. But one doesn't need the whole thrift-store television set to do that; the visual aspect of a CRT displaying analog video snow just adds style points**.

*: Sorta, because if someone discovers that the entropy is derived from an analog TV tuned to channel 3, then they also know how to influence it from outside.

**: Style points can have value; it's OK to have fun with work. But that's a secondary function.

Re:Ask HN: We just had an actual UUID v4 collision... by nxobject on Sunday May 10, 2026 @02:01AM (#48081401)
I imagine that there might still be a way to swing by with RF equipment and tip the scales in your favor. And if you're important enough, I'm sure there'll be someone motivatd enough to do this. After all, Polymarket was motivating enough for someone to take a hair dryer to a weather station...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/23/hairdryer-or-l...

Re:Ask HN: We just had an actual UUID v4 collision... by iberator on Sunday May 10, 2026 @08:20PM (#48089602)
better to just switch to... random channel every while :) Not perfect but something.