In encryption, the one-time pad is known as the most secure method to maintain confidentiality of data — unbreakable with completely random numbers. Acting as the cryptographic key, random numbers must be truly random or the risk to the encrypted data becomes an issue. Third-party knowledge of the underlying algorithm presents opportunity for exposure of the keys. Alternate random number generating processes are influenced by the laws of physics and latency of generation. Enter quantum physics; a space where there is ample chaos to generate truly random numbers. “If you take two photons emitted by the same atom at different times but under the same conditions, they may exhibit different behaviors, and there’s no way to predict those behaviors ahead of time.” Current approaches, commercial sources, and history of the quest for random number generation is found in IEEE Spectrum’s “The Future of Cybersecurity Is the Quantum Random Number Generator”.
