On Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:08:31 +1200, Michael Cree wrote:
What is "truly random" when pseudo random number generators can pass all statistical tests for randomness? If there is no known test for distinguishing "truly random" from a known deterministic process that generates a sequence of numbers that passes the tests for randomness, then how can we claim that "truly random" actually exists?
Quantum theory says that, when a superposition of states collapses, you cannot know in advance which of the possible states it will collapse into. This theory has passed all known experimental tests so far. Nevertheless, a hardware chip that claims to be built on this principle still can offer no guarantee that it is foolproof. Along the path from physical effect, through hardware sensor, through encoding/decoding logic, through bus interface, through microcode firmware, through device driver, through OS kernel, through API library, through application software, to end user, there are countless opportunities for stupidity (or malice) to stuff things up, in ever so subtle ways. And you might never know that this has happened.