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A random password generator is a software program or hardware device that takes input from a random or pseudo-random number generator and automatically generates a password. Random passwords can be generated manually, using simple sources of randomness such as dice or coins , or they can be generated using a computer.
It is also possible to use ordinary dice to generate random passwords (see Random password generator § Stronger methods). Random password programs often can ensure that the resulting password complies with a local password policy; for instance, by always producing a mix of letters, numbers, and special characters.
[1] In its original form, it is of poor quality and of historical interest only. Lehmer generator: 1951 D. H. Lehmer [2] One of the very earliest and most influential designs. Linear congruential generator (LCG) 1958 W. E. Thomson; A. Rotenberg [3] [4] A generalisation of the Lehmer generator and historically the most influential and studied ...
Dice are an example of a mechanical hardware random number generator. When a cubical die is rolled, a random number from 1 to 6 is obtained. Random number generation is a process by which, often by means of a random number generator (RNG), a sequence of numbers or symbols is generated that cannot be reasonably predicted better than by random chance.
Random number generation in kernel space was implemented for the first time for Linux [2] in 1994 by Theodore Ts'o. [6] The implementation used secure hashes rather than ciphers, [clarification needed] to avoid cryptography export restrictions that were in place when the generator was originally designed.
For these applications, truly random numbers are ideal, and very high quality pseudo-random numbers are necessary if truly random numbers, such as coming from a hardware random number generator, are unavailable. Truly random numbers are absolutely required to be assured of the theoretical security provided by the one-time pad — the only ...
That is, given the first k bits of a random sequence, there is no polynomial-time algorithm that can predict the (k+1)th bit with probability of success non-negligibly better than 50%. [1] Andrew Yao proved in 1982 that a generator passing the next-bit test will pass all other polynomial-time statistical tests for randomness. [2]
The Character Generator Protocol (CHARGEN) is a service of the Internet Protocol Suite defined in RFC 864 in 1983 by Jon Postel. It is intended for testing, debugging, and measurement purposes. The protocol is rarely used, as its design flaws allow for ready misuse. [1]