• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Company's wall of lava lamps creates 'unhackable' code that protects people on the internet

Home> News

Published 15:14 8 Nov 2024 GMT

Company's wall of lava lamps creates 'unhackable' code that protects people on the internet

It's impossible to hack - and you can even participate in it

Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard Kaonga

Featured Image Credit: Cloudflare/Instagram / @‌londonliu_

Topics: News, Technology, US News

Gerrard Kaonga
Gerrard Kaonga

Gerrard is a Journalist at UNILAD and has dived headfirst into covering everything from breaking global stories to trending entertainment news. He has a bachelors in English Literature from Brunel University and has written across a number of different national and international publications. Most notably the Financial Times, Daily Express, Evening Standard and Newsweek.

Advert

Advert

Advert

When it comes to protecting your data, there's a multitude of ways you could likely achieve that - though I imagine lava lamps wasn't your first guess.

As hackers create a variety of methods to access your technological devices - including some very creative ways, let's say -people are having to also find ways to protect their internet information.

An encryption key would be a great start, however, it isn't entirely fool-proof as it all hinges on how easy the code is to get hold of if you're not the intended recipient, because if you have the key then the data is no longer encrypted.

The problem that arises there is that if you are using computers to generate these codes, the machines can start to show patterns in the codes they generate.

So, if you are smart enough to spot a pattern, then you can find a way around this and predict the code, and if you make enough guesses using a predictable pattern which you've observed, then it's possible that one will be correct eventually, and then the game's up.

Advert

So, the obvious way to get around this problem is make sure that your encryption codes are as random as is possible.

But how do you go about ensuring this?

Well, encryption company Cloudflare came up with an elegant and effective solution - lava lamps.

Yes, you read that right.

Advert

A rather colorful way to protect your data (Cloudflare)
A rather colorful way to protect your data (Cloudflare)

Completely random codes are difficult, but when you look at the movement in a lava lamp, it's never quite the same between any two moments.

Part of what makes them so appealing is how they morph and change in that charming way. This is a random pattern, and more importantly is very unpredictable, which is exactly why Cloudflare use them.

Instagrammer @londonliu_ took to the social media platform to further explain how this works.

Advert

She said: "As the lava lamp bubbles move a video camera on the ceiling mirrors their changes to a computer, which converts the randomness into a code that's pretty much un-hackable."

Not only that, but you can even participate in the process.

The strategy makes things infinitely harder for hackers (Instagram / @londonliu_)
The strategy makes things infinitely harder for hackers (Instagram / @londonliu_)

You might think that such important lava lamps would be safely locked away in some bizarre science fiction vault, but in fact, they are open to the public.

Advert

The content creator further explained: "It's actually possible to see these lava lamps in person.

"The company actually welcomes visitors because external disturbances like human movement and changes in lighting all work together to make the random code even harder to predict.

"So in a way by standing in front of the lava lamp display, you play a role in making the internet a more secure place."

  • MIT student creates device that is able to search the entire internet using just his mind
  • People are just learning of the most deadly disease that often goes undiagnosed by doctors
  • People spot ‘crazy’ change in Trump Mobile details that they think goes against the president’s values
  • Company uses wall of lava lamps to create 'unhackable' code that protects people on the internet

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Expert issues urgent warning for anyone thinking about travelling whilst on Ozempic or Mounjaro

    Those on Ozempic or Mounjaro may face problems abroad if they don't declare it

    News
  • an hour ago

    YouTuber Nikocado Avocado shares shocking results of plastic surgery after 250lb weight loss

    Nikocado explained that following his weight loss, he sought the help of a plastic surgeon

    News
  • an hour ago

    People left speechless after discovering flight attendant job requirements in resurfaced listing from 1940s

    This wouldn't fly today...

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Everyone's saying the same thing after Trump announces UFC fight on White House lawn next year

    Trump made a surprising announcement while speaking to crowds in Iowa

    News