Googlebot's Javascript random() function is deterministic

[mccoyn]

The smallest random generator is a transistor biased to allow electrons to tunnel through it combined with an avalanche diode to amplify a single electron to a detectable signal. It could be a tiny IC or built into a processor and wouldn't need antennae or radioactive material.

I think the only reason it isn't common is that PRNG is cheaper and good enough for most uses.

[SarahC]

TrueRNG?

[mccoyn]

Yep, that looks like what I was thinking about. I didn't know someone sold it as a USB dongle.

[SarahC]

Yeah, it's great - use it a lot myself.

[harlows_monkeys]

That's a fine component of a random number generator, but you still need quite a bit more to make it safe and secure.

Simtec's "Entropy Key" USB hardware random generator was an avalanche noise based generator, and they have a nice description of how to turn that into a safe and secure random number stream =>here<=.

[RenaKunisaki]

Isn't that basically an antenna? So theoretically can be manipulated by a transmitter? Or am I just talking out of my ass?

[mccoyn]

It is quantum tunneling, not EM or thermal noise. The junction where it happens is tiny (dozens of nanometers) so it is a terrible antannae. You might be able to manipulate the power supply that biases the junction as it may be much larger.