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Cryptographically Secure Random vs Non-Cryptographic Random

Developers should use cryptographically secure random when generating data for security-sensitive operations, such as creating encryption keys, session tokens, passwords, nonces, or initialization vectors in cryptographic systems meets developers should use non-cryptographic random when performance and deterministic behavior are critical, such as in scientific simulations, machine learning for data shuffling, or game development for procedural content generation. Here's our take.

🧊Nice Pick

Cryptographically Secure Random

Developers should use cryptographically secure random when generating data for security-sensitive operations, such as creating encryption keys, session tokens, passwords, nonces, or initialization vectors in cryptographic systems

Cryptographically Secure Random

Nice Pick

Developers should use cryptographically secure random when generating data for security-sensitive operations, such as creating encryption keys, session tokens, passwords, nonces, or initialization vectors in cryptographic systems

Pros

  • +It is essential in applications like web security (e
  • +Related to: encryption, cryptography

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

Non-Cryptographic Random

Developers should use non-cryptographic random when performance and deterministic behavior are critical, such as in scientific simulations, machine learning for data shuffling, or game development for procedural content generation

Pros

  • +It is unsuitable for security contexts like generating encryption keys, tokens, or passwords, where cryptographic random methods are required to prevent predictability and ensure safety
  • +Related to: random-number-generation, cryptographic-random

Cons

  • -Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

Use Cryptographically Secure Random if: You want it is essential in applications like web security (e and can live with specific tradeoffs depend on your use case.

Use Non-Cryptographic Random if: You prioritize it is unsuitable for security contexts like generating encryption keys, tokens, or passwords, where cryptographic random methods are required to prevent predictability and ensure safety over what Cryptographically Secure Random offers.

🧊
The Bottom Line
Cryptographically Secure Random wins

Developers should use cryptographically secure random when generating data for security-sensitive operations, such as creating encryption keys, session tokens, passwords, nonces, or initialization vectors in cryptographic systems

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