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Date:      Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:13:49 +0100
From:      Mark Murray <markm@FreeBSD.org>
To:        RW <rwmaillists@googlemail.com>
Cc:        Arthur Mesh <arthurmesh@gmail.com>, Ian Lepore <freebsd@damnhippie.dyndns.org>, Doug Barton <dougb@freebsd.org>, Ben Laurie <benl@freebsd.org>, freebsd-security@freebsd.org, "Bjoern A. Zeeb" <bz@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Re: svn commit: r239569 - head/etc/rc.d
Message-ID:  <E1TCnVd-000Ctz-BF@groundzero.grondar.org>
In-Reply-To: <20120915025820.73e04565@gumby.homeunix.com>
References:  <50453686.9090100@FreeBSD.org> <20120911082309.GD72584@dragon.NUXI.org> <504F0687.7020309@FreeBSD.org> <201209121628.18088.jhb@freebsd.org> <5050F477.8060409@FreeBSD.org> <20120912213141.GI14077@x96.org> <20120913052431.GA15052@dragon.NUXI.org> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1209131258210.13080@ai.fobar.qr> <alpine.BSF.2.00.1209141336170.13080@ai.fobar.qr> <E1TCXN0-000NFT-7I@groundzero.grondar.org> <CAG5KPzwOdCkybj3D5uic1KC-pwW-pewgsrqrXg60f5SJjtzYPw@mail.gmail.com> <E1TCbDG-0002Hz-9D@groundzero.grondar.org> <CAG5KPzzRxzVX-%2B9fYjRdqjY-wScbM6AA7GYtLmktgMG0Zg8iyQ@mail.gmail.com> <E1TCbSz-0007CJ-BI@groundzero.grondar.org> <CAG5KPzyJNmXRfxtPPrdc2zVCsxGtDfJT79YC3a1PNUfOOSzt8A@mail.gmail.com> <E1TCcIq-000Brr-Ex@groundzero.grondar.org> <CAG5KPzwEESg7iUb2%2B-kAN%2Bk55M95BZjh5VaSvxzSsSCVuZ9kMw@mail.gmail.com> <E1TCdlD-000C1N-4g@groundzero.grondar.org> <20120915025820.73e04565@gumby.homeunix.com>

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RW writes:
> So far no one has come up with a single cogent argument for
> compression. If you replace compression with hashing then the need
> modifying the kernel code is eliminated.

Compression reduces file size without losing entropy; in fact it serves
as an entropy concentrator. That said, I agree that its output is still
not small enough and its speed is unacceptable.

As for modifying kernel code,

$ cat /dev/zero > /dev/random

... can swamp entropy harvesting. Its an obvious attack and easily
spotted/thwarted, but I'd like to defend against it; the current code is
a bit too naive.

M
--
Mark R V Murray
Cert APS(Open) Dip Phys(Open) BSc Open(Open) BSc(Hons)(Open)
Pi: 132511160




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