Lava lamps are cool if you’re 9 years old or 39 years old, but how are they helping keep the internet secure? We delve into how Cloudflare are modernising the internet security landscape with the help of the popular ‘60s toy.
Internet Encryption
Encryption is the process of jumbling up data so that it can only be understood by authorised parties, closely linked to cryptography which codes information so that only the recipient can read or open it, and it is essential for keeping the internet and websites secure. It heavily relies on random and unpredictable strings of data, ensuring that hackers cannot decrypt information.
However, computers alone cannot create the random data strong enough for encryption, meaning they rely on a source of the random data to create encryption, and this, ladies and gentlemen, is where our favourite childhood toy comes into play – the lava lamp.
Cloudflare Lava Lamps
Cloudflare is one of the biggest networks on the internet, providing services that allow websites to be secure and perform successfully. They’ve found a unique way to ensure website security is durable – by using 100 lava lamps in Cloudflare HQ to create unpredictable data used for encryption.
The wall of lava lamps is watched continuously from mounted cameras, which take photos at regular intervals and send them to Cloudflare servers. These images are stored as a series of numbers – each pixel having its own numerical value – meaning each image becomes a string of totally random numbers, which are used to create secure encryption keys.
What’s more, the cameras often pick up obstructions – such as people standing in front of the lamps – which actually aids encryption as it makes the image even more random.
These keys are used to provide secure SSL encryption to customers.
An Assortment Of Randomness
Cloudflare doesn’t stop there with using everyday objects to create unpredictable data. In their London office, they have a double-pendulum system – making use of mathematically unpredictable movements – and their Singapore office measures the radioactive decay of a pellet of uranium.
The History of the Lava Lamp Wall
This system is not the first of its kind, it is inspired by a similar system that was built in 1996 by Silicon Graphics.
Website Security
It is paramount that your website takes security seriously, and is a deciding factor that is non-negotiable for the majority of internet users. Ballyhoo uses Cloudflare to enhance client website performance, and ensure an extra layer of security, in addition to our fast and secure servers. For more information, please contact us.
