Hardware Security
Which describes a true random number generator (TRNG) built into a chip?
- AA program producing a random sequence from a seed with a fixed formula
- BA circuit generating random numbers from unpredictable physical phenomena such as thermal noise or oscillator jitter
- CA circuit using the clock time directly as a random number
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. A circuit generating random numbers from unpredictable physical phenomena such as thermal noise or oscillator jitter
A pseudo-random sequence can be regenerated if its seed is known, so guessing the seed means guessing the keys. A TRNG generates bits from unpredictable physical phenomena such as resistor thermal noise or ring-oscillator period jitter. In practice, TRNG output often seeds a cryptographic pseudo-random generator, combining speed with unpredictability.
- A. That is a pseudo-random number generator.
- B. Correct. It serves as the source for generating cryptographic keys.
- C. Time is predictable and unsuitable as randomness.