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Lava Lamps

Found this story about the use of lava lamps by Cloudfare oddly uplifting. A return to simplicity to do things that are seen as technically complex and inscrutable to most people. The average user of Uber might not get the finer points of how internet traffic is encrypted but everyone can appreciate the beauty of a lava lamp and from there how they can be used in ways that might seem unusual.

Why use lava lamps for encryption instead of computer-generated code? Since computer codes are created by machines with relatively predictable patterns, it is entirely possible for hackers to guess their algorithms, posing a security risk. Lava lamps, on the other hand, add to the equation the sheer randomness of the physical world, making it nearly impossible for hackers to break through.

While you might think that such an important place would be kept in secret and locked off from the public, it’s actually possible for visitors to witness these lava lamps in person. Simply enter the lobby of Cloudflare’s San Francisco headquarters and ask to see the lava lamp display.

Love the sparse beauty of the solution. Something a poet turned developer could dream up.



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