Okay, I guess this is entirely subjective and whatnot, but I was thinking about entropy sources for random number generators. It goes that most generators are seeded with the current time, correct? Well, I was curious as to what other sources could be used to generate perfectly valid, random (The loose definition) numbers.
Would using multiple sources (Such as time + current HDD seek time [We’re being fantastical here]) together create a ‘more random’ number than a single source? What are the logical limits of the amount of sources? How much is really enough? Is the time chosen simply because it is convenient?
Excuse me if this sort of thing is not allowed, but I’m curious as to the theory behind the sources.
The Wikipedia article on Hardware random number generator’s lists a couple of interesting sources for random numbers using physical properties.
My favorites:
The problems section of the Wikipedia article also describes the fragility of a lot of these sources/sensors. Sensors almost always produce decreasingly random numbers as they age/degrade. These physical sources should be constantly checked by statistical tests which can analyze the generated data, ensuring the instruments haven’t broken silently.