Assessment of randomness sources in mobile devices

Mgr. Neelesh Kumar Tamrakar

Master's thesis

Abstract:

True random number generators need sources of entropy for their correct function. This thesis is focusing on examination and analysis of several sources of randomness available in current mobile devices specifically in smart phones. The goal is to identify physical sources of randomness that are capable of generating random data with some entropy in reasonable time. The thesis explores the available sources of randomness which can be used in mobile devices and estimates the amount and speed of random data generation in such environments. The aim of this work is identification of such sources, estimation of the amount of available entropy, evaluation of their acquisition speed and testing of their quality. Identified sources of randomness are tested on the Samsung Galaxy duos GT-I8262 and Samsung Galaxy GT-I9300 with Android operating system. The examined sources are the output of the sensors which are available on these mobile devices. The data is collected in static scenario and its effect on entropy is analysed. To assess the entropy of collected data Shannon and min-entropy is used. Additionally for comparison one mostly used sensor in mobile environment is studied without any operating system.

Abstract:

True random number generators need sources of entropy for their correct function. This thesis is focusing on examination and analysis of several sources of randomness available in current mobile devices specifically in smart phones. The goal is to identify physical sources of randomness that are capable of generating random data with some entropy in reasonable time. The thesis explores the available sources of randomness which can be used in mobile devices and estimates the amount and speed of random data generation in such environments. The aim of this work is identification of such sources, estimation of the amount of available entropy, evaluation of their acquisition speed and testing of their quality. Identified sources of randomness are tested on the Samsung Galaxy duos GT-I8262 and Samsung Galaxy GT-I9300 with Android operating system. The examined sources are the output of the sensors which are available on these mobile devices. The data is collected in static scenario and its effect on entropy is analysed. To assess the entropy of collected data Shannon and min-entropy is used. Additionally for comparison one mostly used sensor in mobile environment is studied without any operating system.

Keywords

Sensors, True Random Number Generator, Entropy, Android operating system, Unpredictability, Randomness etc.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 22. 5. 2017

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 20. 6. 2017
• Supervisor: Ing. Mgr. et Mgr. Zdeněk Říha, Ph.D.
• Reader: RNDr. Petr Švenda, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Informatics

Master programme / field:
Informatics / Information Technology Security (eng.)