Provable private randomness from untrusted devices

Title; Provable private randomness from untrusted devices
Speaker: Cameron Foreman, Researcher, CQC

Abstract
Randomness is required in many applications, from simulations to cryptography. It is essential that this randomness is unbiased and private, else, the results in simulations are meaningless and the keys used in cryptography are unsecure. But the question is, how do we know if the randomness we use has these properties? Device-independent randomness provides the solution to this question – giving provably unbiased and private randomness.

In my talk I will present the different approaches to randomness generation (and ultimately, their limitations). I will then talk about a new approach – the idea of generating provable randomness with minimal assumptions – device independent randomness. Then, I will get into the technical details of how this is achieved in our device independent randomness and privacy amplification protocol. Finally, I will explain how this is adapted to be implemented on today’s quantum computers – giving verifications impossible from any existing commercial random number generator.

Bio: Cameron Foreman is a Quantum Cryptography Researcher at Cambridge Quantum Computing. He received his Masters degree in Mathematics from the University of Exeter, specializing in post-quantum public key cryptography, specifically protocols based on quantum walks. Since graduating, he has been researching quantum information theory – mainly in the area of device independent cryptography.