Some crazy things have happened since the previous episode: There were rather mysterious test results with different Zener diodes that took me some time to figure out, I’m actively joining forces with the Cryptech project and I’ve ordered the first generation of proper test PCBs among other things.
BIVBlog #31: More news on the Hardware Random Number Generator
Some crazy things have happened since the previous episode: There were rather mysterious test results with different Zener diodes that took me some time to figure out, I’m actively joining forces with the Cryptech project and I’ve ordered the first generation of proper test PCBs among other things.
BIVBlog #30: News on the Hardware Random Number Generator
After some component shopping and leaving the current prototype to produce some serious test output, my hardware random number generator project takes several unexpected turns.
BIVBlog #29: Existing randomness test suites
Once upon a long ago I thought that the most reasonable approach to test my hardware random number generator was to use tests that other people have written, so I’d avoid testing my own stuff and missing some critical mistake. Well, things didn’t quite turn out as I expected…
BIVBlog #28: Programming the random number generator firmware
With a microcontroller hooked up between a hardware noise generator and a computer, the next step is to write firmware for it. There is a surprisingly wide range of approaches on how to turn analog noise into high quality random data and this video shows how to implement at least the most promising ones.
BIVBlog #27: From analog noise to hardware random number generator
While there are still ways to optimize the noise generator module, the next step towards a proper hardware random number generator is to process its output in a microcontroller and hook that up to a computer. Here’s the hardware side, including a number of alternatives I’ve taken a look at but decided not to pursue […]
BIVBlog #26: An auditable random noise generator
If you rather trust a hardware random number generator you can build and audit yourself, rather than buying some trusted (according to the vendor) platform module, this series may be for you. In this episode I explain how the Zener/avalanche diode based noise generator I use works.