Random Numbers (1 of 2: True vs. Pseudo RNGs)

[Sparks]

An excellent series and basic introduction to cryptography principles (albeit very basic). What I like best is not getting lost in the mathematical weeds of number theory, probability and statistics like so many overview intros into cryptography do. Anyone with a solid Junior or Senior HS year math background should be able to comprehend and grasp it, even if it does introduce some new concepts . . . or at least give a refresher on some that were barely touched on in prior math classes.

[cryptomaniac]

the 2nd flip of the coin in objective reality is not independent - there are measurable factors such as the weight of the coin on either side that could skew the probability that it begins within your fingers on one side or the other plus the physics of your bodily motion is measurable and adds additional probability that the coin will flip and land on a particular side

[germanshepherd]

If a lottery was using a random number generator, how could i figure out the formula it was using to determine the numbers? Like how Eddie Tipton hacked the lottery.

[Ariverfish]

Now I can justify why it's the game's fault that I lost.

[NeerajSharma-ozmm]

I wish you were my teacher growing up
You make studying fun...

[nepaliguyslofi]

why my lecturer can't make the class interesting like this.

[GNU_Linux_for_good]

12:08 True randomness to me is when it's proven that you can't calculate (not even theoretically) an outcome.

[re.liable]

I didn't quite understand his answer to the question if true RNG are truly random [enough].

The way I see it, if you knew all the factors affecting a physical phenomenon, you can indeed work out what the outcome is going to be. However, "knowing" all about those factors entail the use of advanced enough technology which may not even exist yet, making it practically impossible; thus, it can be considered random "enough" (because it is practically impossible to predict)

[sachleenkaur]

which is the best method to generate pseudo random numbers?

[davidjohnston]

I may die happy if people stop calling nondeterministic RNGs "true" and deterministic RNGs "Pseudo". This terminology is boneheaded, ill defined and use with different meanings by different people.

[igvc]

You are very misleading here. First of all - a coin or die flips are not independent if you are throwing them, they are only conditionally independent. And there is no reason why true random number generators are more likely to be uniformly distributed than pseudorandom generators. Uniform randomness is not a verifiable property of anything in nature.