CHAPTER 8: RANDOM BIT GENERATION AND STREAM CIPHERS
TRUE OR FALSE
T F 1. The principle requirement of random or pseudorandom number
generation is that the generated number stream be unpredictable.
T F 2. Random numbers play an important role in the use of encryption
for various network security applications.
T F 3. There are well–defined tests for determining uniform distribution
and independence to validate that a sequence of numbers is
random.
T F 4. With true random sequences each number is statistically
independent of other numbers in the sequence and therefore
unpredictable.
T F 5. The true random number generator may simply involve conversion
of an analog source to a binary output.
T F 6. Examples of a pseudorandom function are decryption keys and
nonces.
T F 7. If the PRF does not generate effectively random 128–bit output
values it may be possible for an adversary to narrow the
possibilities and successfully use a brute force attack.
T F 8. The purpose of the Maurer’s universal statistical test is to
determine whether the number of ones and zeros in a sequence
are approximately the same as would be expected for a truly
random sequence.
T F 9. The seed that serves as input to the PRNG must be secure for
cryptographic applications.
T F 10. Three broad categories of cryptographic algorithms are commonly
used to create PRNGs: symmetric block ciphers, asymmetric
ciphers, and hash functions and message authentication codes.
T F 11. A widely used technique for pseudorandom number generation is
an algorithm known as the linear congruential method.
T F 12. A cryptographically secure pseudorandom bit generator is defined
as one that passes the least significant bit test.
T F 13. The security of Blum, Blum, Shub is based on the difficulty of
factoring n.
T F 14. The stream cipher is similar to the one–time pad with a difference
being that a one–time pad uses a pseudorandom number stream
and a stream cipher uses a genuine random number stream.
T F 15. The longer the keyword the more difficult the cryptanalysis.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A secret key for symmetric encryption that is generated for use for a short
period of time is called a _________ .
A. strategic key B. sequence key
C. session key D. stream key
2. A __________ is used to produce a pseudorandom string of bits of some fixed
length.
A. PRF B. PRNG
C. OFB PRNG D. TRNG
3. A source that is effectively random is referred to as __________ .
A. an open source B. an entropy source
C. a keystream D. a seed
4. A __________ takes as input a source that is effectively random.
A. PRF B. BBS
C. PRNG D. TRNG
5. A pseudorandom number generator takes as input a fixed value called the
__________ and produces a sequence of output bits using a deterministic
algorithm.
A. seed B. fixed skew
C. entropy source D. keystream
6. The best that can be done to determine if a PRNG generates numbers that
have the characteristic of randomness is on the basis of multiple tests. These
tests should seek to establish uniformity, scalability, and __________ .
A. consistency B. authentication
C. frequency D. sequencing
7. The __________ test is the most basic test of randomness and must be included
in any test suite.
A. frequency B. runs
C. unpredictability D. Maurer
8. The Blum, Blum, Shub generator is referred to as a ____________ .
A. TRNG B. OFB PRNG
C. QRN D. CSPRBG
9. Two approaches that use a block cipher to build a PNRG and have gained
widespread acceptance are:
A. CTR mode and CFB mode B. CTR mode and OFB mode
C. CBC mode and CFB mode D. OFB mode and ECB mode
10. A __________ uses a nondeterministic source to produce randomness.
A. CSPRBG B. TRNG
C. PRNG D. BBS
11. __________ is an open source project for creating truly random numbers using
inexpensive cameras, open source code, and inexpensive hardware.
A. LavaRnd B. Blum, Blum, Shub
C. Maurer’s statistics D. Entropy
12. Various methods of modifying a bit stream to reduce or eliminate a bias have
been developed. These are referred to as ___________ algorithms.
A. backward B. deskewing
C. forward D. keystream
13. The Linux operating system uses _________ entropy sources for generating
random numbers.
A. four B. three
C. one D. two
14. In key distribution and reciprocal authentication schemes two
communicating parties cooperate by exchanging messages to distribute keys
and/or authenticate each other. In many cases ___________ are used for
handshaking to prevent replay attacks.
A. session keys B. nonces
C. RC4s D. entropies
15. The distribution of bits in a random number sequence should be ___________ ,
therefore the frequency of occurrence of ones and zeros should be
approximately equal.
A. independent B. uniform
C. reversed D. streamed
SHORT ANSWER
1. A __________ is a symmetric encryption algorithm in which ciphertext output is
produced bit-by-bit or byte-by-byte from a stream of plaintext input.
2. Typically the __________ takes as input a seed plus some context specific values
such as a user ID or an application ID.
3. Two criteria used to validate that a sequence of numbers is random are
uniform distribution and __________ .
4. The most important and widely used stream cipher is __________ .
5. Two distinct requirements for a sequence of random numbers are
unpredictability and __________ .
6. If the algorithm is good the resulting sequences will pass many reasonable
tests of randomness. These numbers are referred to as ___________ numbers.
7. The __________ is drawn from the physical environment of the computer and
could include things such as keystroke timing patterns, disk electrical
activity, mouse movements, and instantaneous values of the system clock.
8. An algorithm that is used to produce an open-ended sequence of bits is
referred to as a ___________ .
9. The purpose of the __________ test is to determine whether the number of runs
of ones and zeros of various lengths is as expected for a random sequence.
10. A stream of pseudorandom numbers should exhibit two forms of
unpredictability: forward and __________ .
11. __________ algorithms are designed specifically and solely for the purpose of
generating pseudorandom bit streams.
12. In a stream cipher structure a key is input to a pseudorandom bit generator
that produces a stream of 8-bit numbers that are apparently random. The
output of the generator, called a ___________ , is combined one byte at a time
with the plaintext stream using the bitwise exclusive-OR operation.
13. __________ is a stream cipher designed in 1987 by Ron Rivest for RSA Security.
14. Operating systems typically provide a built-in mechanism for generating
random numbers. For example, __________ uses mouse and keyboard activity,
disk I/O operations, and specific interrupts.
15. A fundamental requirement of the RSA public-key encryption scheme is the
ability to generate _________ numbers.
TRUE OR FALSE
MULTIPLE CHOICE
SHORT ANSWER
