Re: Generate random passwords with your mouse ... :-)

Stefan Claas <fgrsna.pynnf@vagrearg.eh> wrote:

Rich wrote:

Stefan Claas <fgrsna.pynnf@vagrearg.eh> wrote:

Hi all,
 
just for fun, or maybe for real usage. ;-)
 
A small Windows .exe
 
https://github.com/706f6c6c7578/mouse_entropy

 
Not likely as "random" as one would think.  Better than nothing as
well.

 
Well, why not as random?

Because humans are very decidely "not very random" (although we like to
think we are).

I think you can't generate the same mouse movement twice, right?  And
how could we call that?

If you just 'monitor' the mouse while it's being moved, there will be
decidedly "non-random" aspects to the movement.  I.e., for the same
task X, a very similar set of mouse movements will be involved.  Will
there be some 'jitter' in the movements?  Yes.  But that jitter will
likely not be as much as you'd think to gain a truly 'random' output.

And if you specifically ask users to "move the mouse randomly" you'll
simply get side to side shaking, up/down shaking, or spinning in a
circle.  None of which are terribly random movements.