At 09:47 AM 10/26/98 +0100, Mok-Kong Shen wrote:
David Honig wrote:
Now run Maurer's test; I've posted a version for blocksize = 16. The cipher-PRNG output will not have the entropy expected for randomness. The physical-random file will.
I don't see you have answered my question of whether a test has to take into consideration how a sequence of numbers has been obtained.
A test measures only what it measures. You never know if this is sufficient. A sample of a non-random process may pass your tests if they don't measure the right thing.
Also what you wrote above seems to be less than clear. Do you suggest that Mauerer's test is extremely good in deciding whether a sequence is TRULY random? (I think Maurer's test is good for investigating
I only find it interesting that the test can distinguish between the two data samples. To the eye, or ear, or Diehard, they appear the same.
What if some PRNGs pass Maurer's test?
M. K. Shen
I'd find it surprising if any did, given what I described. DH