How to Get Next-Level Cryptography With a Crappy Old Nokia Phone

Remember the Nokia N9? Probably notbut geek points if you dobecause it was a smartphone that was DOA and used by pretty much no one. But even a three-year-old smartphone is pretty sophisticated piece of machinery. Using just an N9 and light, physicists have found a way to generate the random numbers algorithms used to encrypt data.

Modern cryptology algorithms rely on inputs of random numbersif the numbers aren't truly random, the encryption get easier to crack. And computers, which are exquisitely good at following directions, are not good at being random.

One way to get random numbers is taking advantage of variations in the world of quantum mechanics, which usually requires bulky lab equipment. Light has inherent randomness. "According to quantum mechanics," writes William Herkewitz in Popular Mechanics, "it's impossible to predict exactly when an atom will emit a particle of light. And over a given amount of time, the exact number of light particles any light source will produce is also inherently random."

The Nokia N9 with its 8-megapixel camera is sensitive enough to detect this quantum variation. Each pixel of the camera detects a slightly different number of photons, a variation that gets translated into a stream of random numbers. The proof of concept suggests that equipment for quantum random generation can be radically shrunk down.

"If everybody on earth used such a device constantly at 1 Gbps," the authors write in their paper," it would take 1060times the age of the universe for one to notice a deviation from a perfectly random bit string."

A physicist not involved in the study told Popular Mechanics that there's no way to verify the randomness comes from quantum behavior rather than other physical properties. But it does seem like viable way to generate random (or very very very close to random) numbers with some pretty unremarkable technology. [Popular Mechanics, ArXiv]

Top image: Nokia

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How to Get Next-Level Cryptography With a Crappy Old Nokia Phone

TCR #27: Cryptocurrency growth, 9/11 Anniversary, CDC Scandal, Face Your Fears – Video


TCR #27: Cryptocurrency growth, 9/11 Anniversary, CDC Scandal, Face Your Fears
Derrick Broze presents The Conscious Resistance. crypto stories thelibertybeat.com/top-universitiecryptocurrency/ thelibertybeat.com/new-peer-to-peeplace-l...

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TCR #27: Cryptocurrency growth, 9/11 Anniversary, CDC Scandal, Face Your Fears - Video

Cryptocurrency Round-Up: Bank of England and PayPal Founder Criticise Bitcoin

Stability reigns for bitcoin, however critics line up to highlight cryptocurrency's weaknesses.IBTimesUK

The price of bitcoin has continued its recent run of stability, shifting in value by less than 0.5% since this time yesterday.

Dogecoin's run of good form has continued with a 5% price increase in the last 24 hours, pushing its market capitalisation up towards $20m (12m, 15m) once again.

Following several weeks of steadily increasing prices, startcoin has experienced a significant surge in value. The "digital currency for crowdfunding" has seen its market cap double to $2m in the space of just a few hours, which could suggest a pump-and-dump.

Bank of England warns of bitcoin risk

The Bank of England has said that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies would create an economy at risk of deflation if they overtook traditional fiat currencies as the main form of payment.

The finite supply of bitcoins, as well as its decentralised status, means that the amount of currency in circulation is unable to be adjusted in line with the value of goods and service, the UK's central bank suggests.

"The inability of the money supply to vary in response to demand would likely cause greater volatility in prices and real activity," the Bank of England said.

If bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to become more widespread, it goes without saying that it is central banks like the Bank of England that have the most to lose.

PayPal co-founder unhappy with bitcoin payment system

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Stop the Leak: An Admins Guide to Encryption for Gmail and Google Apps – gCON – Breakout 7 – Video


Stop the Leak: An Admins Guide to Encryption for Gmail and Google Apps - gCON - Breakout 7
Whether for regulatory requirements like HIPAA or simply to protect financial, legal, or intellectual property information, protection of corporate data has never been more important. As more...

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List of free and open-source software packages – Wikipedia …

This article is about software free to be modified and distributed. For examples of software free in the monetary sense, see List of freeware.

This is a list of free and open source software packages: computer software licensed under free software licenses and open source licenses. Software that fits the Free Software Definition may be more appropriately called free software; the GNU project in particular objects to their works being referred to as open source.[1] For more information about the philosophical background for open source software, see free software movement and Open Source Initiative. However, nearly all software meeting the Free Software Definition also meets the Open Source Definition and vice versa. A small fraction of the software that meets either definition is listed here.

Some of the Open Source applications are also the basis of commercial products, shown in the List of commercial open-source applications and services.

Be advised that available distributions of these systems can contain, or offer to build and install, added software that is neither free software nor open source.

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HP embraces open source in the cloud with Eucalyptus acquisition

There was a time, when open source software was synonymous with being cheap or on the fringe. In other words, companies embraced closed source options, because that was the thing to do -- there were not many options. Quite frankly, I do not blame businesses for playing it safe.

Today however, open source software and technologies, including Linux, areviable and attractive options. Companies like Red Hat have paved the way for others to move open source from the fringe to the spotlight. Today, major player HPacquires a company namedEucalyptus to bolster its open source technology in the cloud.

"Eucalyptus and HP share a common vision for the future of cloud in the enterprise. Enterprises are demanding open source cloud solutions, and Im thrilled to have this opportunity to grow the HP Helion portfolio and lead a world-class business that delivers private, hybrid, managed and public clouds to enterprise customers worldwide", saysMarten Mickos, CEO, Eucalyptus.

Martin Fink, CTO, HP explains, "we've said before that we believe the future of the Cloud is open source, and this transaction underscores our deep commitment to helping customers build enterprise-class, open clouds their way. We've already seen significant momentum since launching HP Helion and have put in place an outstanding team. Im confident that Marten, a fellow open source devotee, will continue to build out the HP Helion portfolio into the enterprise cloud offering of choice".

Clearly, HP is saying all the right things, and open source fans should be excited by the acquisition. The corporate world seems to be turning to open source technologies more and more. When it comes to the cloud and data storage, it is understandable that companies are hesitant to potentially get stuck ina closed source, proprietary deal. Embracing open source mayallow greater flexibility and control.

Image Credit:alexmillos/Shutterstock

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HP embraces open source in the cloud with Eucalyptus acquisition