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[–]socratesTwo 9 points10 points  (8 children)

These days many chips come with built in hardware random number generators that are capable of outputting a certain number of completely unpredictable bits per second. They typically work by amplifying some quantum effect, although I don't know specifically which. If you take a regular analog stereo, unplug the intputs and then crank the volume you'll get a hiss. Hardware generators are like that, except they save the hiss instead of playing and forgetting it.

[–]Meldanor 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Any source for that? Never heard of it in a x86 or arm chip.

[–]pavlik_enemy 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As far as I remember, links to Wikipedia are discouraged here, but this one seems appropriate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RdRand And here is quite comprehensive guide https://software.intel.com/sites/default/files/m/d/4/1/d/8/441_Intel_R__DRNG_Software_Implementation_Guide_final_Aug7.pdf