diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | doc/lispref/numbers.texi | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | etc/NEWS | 8 |
2 files changed, 11 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/doc/lispref/numbers.texi b/doc/lispref/numbers.texi index 20d3c4290f3..28eb6b18afa 100644 --- a/doc/lispref/numbers.texi +++ b/doc/lispref/numbers.texi @@ -1252,7 +1252,9 @@ any integer representable in Lisp, i.e., an integer between (@pxref{Integer Basics}). If @var{limit} is @code{t}, it means to choose a new seed as if Emacs -were restarting. +were restarting, typically from the system entropy. On systems +lacking entropy pools, choose the seed from less-random volatile data +such as the current time. If @var{limit} is a string, it means to choose a new seed based on the string's contents. @@ -424,6 +424,14 @@ for use in Emacs bug reports. hiding character but the default `.' can be used by let-binding the variable `read-hide-char'. ++++ +** The Emacs pseudo-random number generator can be securely seeded. +On system where Emacs can access the system entropy or some other +cryptographically secure random stream, it now uses that when `random' +is called with its argument `t'. This allows cryptographically strong +random values; in particular, the Emacs server now uses this facility +to produce its authentication key. + --- ** New input methods: `tamil-dvorak' and `programmer-dvorak'. |