Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

Encrypted data is "indistinguishable from random data" but it is not actually random data. No patterns will appear.


If patterns appear in random data, and no patterns appear in encrypted data, then it's trivially distinguishable from random data: look for patterns.


To be clear, I'm not claiming that encrypted data is compressible. I'm just pointing out that any detectable "patterns" that appear in random data but not encrypted data are inconsistent with the claim that random and encrypted data are indistinguishable. Also if you find such a "pattern" that's probably a good starting point for breaking whatever cipher you're using.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: