Python for Reverse Engineering

[Brad Tilley]

Michael Fuhr wrote:
> Brad Tilley <rtilley at vt.edu> writes:
> 
>>A friend of mine wrote an algorithm that generates strings. He says that 
>>it's impossible to figure out exactly how the algorithm works. That may 
>>be true, but I think if I had enough sample strings that I could write a 
>>program to identify patterns in the strings and then produce strings 
>>with similar patterns. He disagrees with me. He gave me 100 strings to 
>>analyze.
> 
> 
> What input, if any, does the algorithm take?

I don't know, but I'm guessing that there is none.

> What are the strings used for?

To unlock an application he wrote (software key).

> Care to post the 100 strings so others can have a look?

I'd rather not do that.

> Reading about cryptanalysis might prove fruitful.  I suspect the
> number of "impossible to figure out" algorithms is far less than
> the number of algorithms whose developers initially made that claim.

I suspect you're right.