NAME

       Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomOrg - download entropy from random.org

SYNOPSIS

               use Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomOrg;

               my $rawsrc = Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomOrg->new;

               $c = $rawsrc->getc;
               # and the rest of the I/O handle interface

DESCRIPTION

       This class provides an I/O handle connected to a stream of random octets being generated
       by an electromagnetic noise detector connected to the random.org server.  This is a strong
       source of random bits, but is not suitable for security applications because the bits are
       passed over the Internet unencrypted.  The handle implements a substantial subset of the
       interface described in IO::Handle.

       For use as a general entropy source, it is recommended to wrap an object of this class
       using "Data::Entropy::Source", which provides methods to extract entropy in more
       convenient forms than mere octets.

       The bits generated at random.org are, theoretically and as far as anyone can tell, totally
       unbiased and uncorrelated.  However, they are sent over the Internet in the clear, and so
       are subject to interception and alteration by an adversary.  This is therefore generally
       unsuitable for security applications.  The capacity of the random bit server is also
       limited.  This class will slow down requests if the server's entropy pool is less than
       half full, and (as requested by the server operators) pause entirely if the entropy pool
       is less than 20% full.

       Applications requiring secret entropy should generate it locally (see
       Data::Entropy::RawSource::Local).  Applications requiring a large amount of entropy should
       generate it locally or download it from randomnumbers.info (see
       Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomnumbersInfo).  Applications requiring a large amount of
       apparently-random data, but not true entropy, might prefer to fake it cryptographically
       (see Data::Entropy::RawSource::CryptCounter).

CONSTRUCTOR

       Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomOrg->new
           Creates and returns a handle object referring to a stream of random octets generated
           by random.org.

METHODS

       A subset of the interfaces described in IO::Handle and IO::Seekable are provided:

       $rawsrc->read(BUFFER, LENGTH[, OFFSET])
       $rawsrc->getc
       $rawsrc->ungetc(ORD)
       $rawsrc->eof
           Buffered reading from the source, as in IO::Handle.

       $rawsrc->sysread(BUFFER, LENGTH[, OFFSET])
           Unbuffered reading from the source, as in IO::Handle.

       $rawsrc->close
           Does nothing.

       $rawsrc->opened
           Retruns true to indicate that the source is available for I/O.

       $rawsrc->clearerr
       $rawsrc->error
           Error handling, as in IO::Handle.

       The buffered ("read" et al) and unbuffered ("sysread" et al) sets of methods are
       interchangeable, because no such distinction is made by this class.

       Methods to write to the file are unimplemented because the stream is fundamentally read-
       only.  Methods to seek are unimplemented because the stream is non-rewindable; "ungetc"
       works, however.

SEE ALSO

       Data::Entropy::RawSource::CryptCounter, Data::Entropy::RawSource::Local,
       Data::Entropy::RawSource::RandomnumbersInfo, Data::Entropy::Source,
       <http://www.random.org>

AUTHOR

       Andrew Main (Zefram) <zefram@fysh.org>

COPYRIGHT

       Copyright (C) 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 Andrew Main (Zefram) <zefram@fysh.org>

LICENSE

       This module is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same
       terms as Perl itself.