How Can I Improve the Performance of SecureRandom in Java?

Strategies for Expediting SecureRandom Performance

SecureRandom, the cornerstone of cryptographically robust random number generation in Java, can impose significant performance bottlenecks. On Linux platforms, its reliance on /dev/random may result in prolonged blocking as the system accumulates sufficient entropy. To mitigate this performance drag, several strategies can be employed.

Utilizing the Faster /dev/urandom Alternative

On Linux, users can leverage the slightly less secure but significantly faster /dev/urandom as an alternative to /dev/random. This can be achieved by setting the java.security.egd system property as follows:

-Djava.security.egd=file:/dev/urandom

Workaround for Java 5 and Later

Unfortunately, this method is incompatible with Java 5 and subsequent versions due to a known bug (Java Bug 6202721). To circumvent this issue, the following workaround can be applied:

-Djava.security.egd=file:/dev/./urandom

(Note the inclusion of the extra /./)

Alternate Solutions

Another potential solution to the performance conundrum involves utilizing Uncommon Maths, an open-source library providing high-performance random number generators. While its implementation may differ from SecureRandom, it is worth exploring as a viable alternative.

Progress in JDK 6

Regarding the performance concerns addressed in JDK 6, conflicting information exists. Some sources indicate that this issue has been resolved, while others suggest otherwise. Further research may be necessary to ascertain the current status in JDK 6.

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