A security engineer is attempting to increase the randomness of numbers used in key generation in a system.
The goal of the effort is to strengthen the keys against predictive analysis attacks.
Which of the following is the BEST solution?
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.A.
The goal of increasing randomness in key generation is to prevent an attacker from predicting or guessing the key. The best solution to achieve this is to use a high-quality random number generator to produce unpredictable values that can be used as keys. Let's evaluate the given options in light of this goal:
A. Use an entropy-as-a-service vendor to leverage larger entropy pools. An entropy-as-a-service vendor provides a source of random numbers to clients. These services often have larger entropy pools than local systems, which can increase randomness. However, this option raises some concerns about the security and trustworthiness of the vendor. It's essential to ensure that the vendor uses proper security controls to prevent tampering with the entropy pool. Additionally, relying on a third-party service can introduce latency and availability issues.
B. Loop multiple pseudo-random number generators in a series to produce larger numbers. Pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are algorithms that produce a sequence of numbers that appear random but are actually deterministic. PRNGs rely on a seed value to generate the sequence, so multiple PRNGs can be looped to produce larger numbers. However, this approach is not secure because an attacker who knows the seed value can predict the output of the PRNG sequence. Combining multiple PRNGs in a loop does not increase security, and may even reduce it.
C. Increase key length by two orders of magnitude to detect brute forcing. Increasing the key length can make brute-force attacks more difficult because the number of possible keys increases exponentially with key length. However, brute-forcing is not the primary concern in this scenario. The goal is to prevent predictive analysis attacks, and longer keys do not necessarily increase randomness. Longer keys can be vulnerable to other attacks, such as side-channel attacks or key leakage.
D. Shift key generation algorithms to ECC algorithms. Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is a modern cryptographic technique that offers stronger security than traditional algorithms like RSA or AES. ECC relies on mathematical properties of elliptic curves to produce keys that are more resistant to attacks. ECC keys are generally shorter than traditional keys but provide equivalent security. Shifting to ECC algorithms can increase the randomness of key generation and make the system more secure against predictive analysis attacks.
Therefore, the BEST solution for increasing randomness in key generation to strengthen keys against predictive analysis attacks is to shift key generation algorithms to ECC algorithms (Option D).