[cs13001] on random number generators

[Mikhail Nesterenko]

CSI students,

For those who got interested in random number generators (RNG). This
recent New York Times article discusses how RNGs are used in security
and how NSA compromised an RNG standard so that NSA are able to break
encryption.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/10/government-announces-steps-to-restore-confidence-on-encryption-standards/

Thanks,
--
Mikhail

Mikhail Nesterenko wrote:
> CSI students,
> 
> This is due to one of the students in the course. The information is
> certainly above what would be required on tests.
> 
> Remember I mentioned that numbers generated by rand() function are in
[...]

> However, here is a question for you. Knowing RAND_MAX, the constant
> that states the largest possible generated pseudo-random number, how
> would you get the highest digits of this number for your limited range
> (rather than the lowest)?