Inferring sequences produced by pseudo-random number generators

  • Authors:
  • Joan Boyar

  • Affiliations:
  • Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL

  • Venue:
  • Journal of the ACM (JACM)
  • Year:
  • 1989

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Abstract

In this paper, efficient algorithms are given for inferring sequences produced by certain pseudo-random number generators. The generators considered are all of the form Xn = &Sgr;kj-l &agr;j&phgr;j(Xo, Xl, . . ., Xn-l) (mod m). In each case, we assume that the functions &phgr;j are known and polynomial time computable, but that the coefficients aj and the modulus m are unknown. Using this general method, specific examples of generators having this form, the linear congruential method, linear congruences with n terms in the recurrence, and quadratic congruences are shown to be cryptographically insecure.